CSKA forward his expectations for the beginning of the preparation for the Olympics as a member of the Russian national team.
- Sergey, you became a world champion with the Russian national team as early as in 2014. There was a short break before the First Channel Cup, and now you are back on the expanded team’s roster. Is this invitation to the roster somehow different from the previous ones?
- I try to think of it as a normal challenge. But obviously, the Olympics is a little different than the World Championships and the Euro Tours. Getting to the Games is a dream for all the players in our country.
- CSKA played its last game on January 7. How did you keep yourself on the toes during the period with no game practice?
- I wasn't sick, so I trained with the guys who were also healthy. I kept my training status. The last couple of days I`ve been resting with my family, trying to get and accumulate positive emotions for the long period when we`ll live in the "bubble".
- When do you start training with the national team?
- Today we took coronavirus tests, and if everything is okay, tomorrow afternoon we will go to Novogorsk, settle there and start training.
- What is your task in training in the near future?
- I need to get fit, get a game tonus and mentally prepare for the fact that I won`t be able to be with my family, go to the city and restaurants. Mentally we need to get prepared for that, and the physical form will come, because we will have a lot of days to prepare; the coaching staff knows what to do.
- There are only 23 days until the Olympic Tournament. Do you feel that the big event is approaching?
- I don't really feel anything. On the contrary, I would say that there are still 23 days. I think it's still a lot. I should not think about that yet, now we have to focus on preparation.
