Ирина wrote:Текст: Никита Лисовой («Наш Зенит»)
Евгений Плющенко: «В футболе был бы нападающим!»
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From the site of football club "Zenit", for whom Plushy cheers
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Evgeni Plushenko: "In football, I would be a striker!"It's extremely difficult to meet Evgeni Plushenko in St. Petersburg now. He travels around the world constantly. But most often he's practicing. And he practices in two places – at the Olympic training facility in Novogorsk, near to Moscow, or in his hometown of St. Petersburg.
But the Olympic champion doesn't take it easy in St. Petersburg either – he practices twice a day.
– I still live in St. Petersburg, – admitted Evgeni. – I'm just practicing to skate a new program, that's why I spend so much time at the Olympic training facility in Novogorsk. But now, as you see, I'm practicing in St. Petersburg.
– They say that you make your practices more interesting by playing football at warm-ups. Is that true?
– Yes, I always have a 15-20 minute warm-up before each practice with a small ball. Usually we put a bench instead of a goal. We play two-on-two, or three-on-three. Sometimes my coach Alexei Mishin plays with us. He's always in form, always moving. He's a good role model!
- "Harsh blows" in such games can happen?
- Happens. Usually, we play "pairs" against the "single" skaters. Usually "pairs" complete training at a time when I starting my second job. Just then, we arrange our fights. Recently, my team consists of my coach for the general physical training Vitaly Balykin and Arthur Gachinsky. In the "pairs", team is changes, constant bases is not there.
- They also have a chance?
- Sometimes, but mostly we are winning - "single" skaters.(smiles).
– Do these football matches help you somehow to warm up?
– Of course. It's really useful for figure skaters to play football, because it helps you speed up your reflexes. Football is a really good warm-up for legs too: joints and ligaments. Of course, I do my own warm-up after football: jumping and other physical exercises. But I have to play football before every practice!
- As far as I know, you earlier not played only before training, but also in the city, somewhere, with your friends?
- It was. And now I try twice a week to play. Going with friends on a mini-football field and play. So, football has always been in my life. As, however, and other sports: hockey, tennis, ping-pong. Recently, I started to seriously engaged with kickboxing and motorsport. I am in constant motion.
- Who is the best footballer among figure skaters?
- Too many. In general, I would like to build football team from skaters. It sure would include Roman Kostomarov, Sasha Abt, Vakho Murvanidze, Artur Dmitriev Sr., Sasha Zhulin, Ilya Averbukh. Normal team is going, right? Once again, I repeat, a lot of skaters very good play football. Create a team for mini-football, and called him "Skaters" - it is not a bad idea. We will need a little practice, take, of course, the good coach. And, I am sure - few would win us! At least, we will fight, that's for sure!
– When was the last time you went to "Petrovsky" Stadium?
– A long time ago. Maybe two years ago, or three. I just don't have time for that any more. I'm travelling all the time. I didn't even have a chance to watch Zenit's recent match vs. Young Boys in the Europa League. But, of course, I know the score, and I congratulate Zenit! I always watch football on TV when I have the chance. The first channel I turn on is always a football station. Maybe I don't watch all the matches with Zenit, but I watch parts of all matches. I'm happy for the guys. They're moving further in Europe, and they've been the first in Russia for a long time now.
- Can we call you a veteran of figure skating?
- Of course (smiles).
- As a veteran, you caught even the Soviet school of preparation of athletes and the Soviet football. Which football you sympathetic more: one, which today is commonly called romantic, or modern: quick and athletic?
- Football of Soviet times and today's - it's two completely different aspects of sport. For me, today's football is much better, because it's faster, more spectacular and more unpredictable. It has more feints, fibs, and more new strategies and tactical builds.
– Do you have any friends among footballers?
– Alessandro del Piero. He's a real master. He's a great person.
– Unbelievable! If it's not a secret, where and how did you meet the legendary Italian player?
– Alex and I got to know each other at training camp. That was 3–4 years ago in a small city in Italy, Pinzolo. Juventus had its training camp there, and I was training there as well. I lived in an apartment, but not far from me was a hotel where the Turin club was staying at that time. And the ice-skating rink was 15 meters away from the football field. We practiced nearby to each other, at almost the same time. Once after practice Alex's manager came over to me right into the ice. He came over and asked me “Would you like to come over to Alex after practice, to take some photos, to talk to him and the team?” Obviously I agreed. Alex and I met. He gave me his jersey, and we kicked the ball around for a little while. After that we became friends, and today our families spend time together too. We plan to go on vacation together some time soon. We get along real well together. What can I say about him? He's a legend of course. To work for 15 years in one club – that's amazing in my opinion.
– Could you do that?
– Well, actually, I've been working with the same trainer, even longer than Alex has been playing in Juventus. (smiles) .
– Del Piero is a great footballer. What's he like in normal life?
– He's interesting. We always have things to talk about, lots of interests in common. Del Piero is very calm, intelligent, reasonable. You know, to be the captain of your team is a big deal too. And again, not every person can play 15 years in one team.
– If you were a footballer, what position would you play?
– Striker, for sure!
– Probably you'd be the captain?
– That would be up to the team and the trainer. Could I be the captain is another matter? It's hard to be the leader. It requires a lot of responsibility. I've never been in the position of team captain, and I don't know how I'd react. But I know for sure that I'd be a striker.