— Now many guys are already training individually. How are you feeling? — After the vacation, I began to slowly go to the gym, on the ice individually. I got involved because last season was good, but now we need to keep in shape, move on and not stop. — When did you resume training? — In the second half of May, I began to move gradually, in June I went on the ice. So I'm getting in shape. — What is the main task of training now? — Roll into preparation. We work with the guys on the ice, we gather ourselves in groups. We train, we force each other. It's more fun to train in the company, you can joke and laugh. It's much more interesting this way. — What is the most unloved thing at the first stage of preparation? — I think there is no such thing. With experience, comes an understanding of the work. The pre-season training camps themselves are also changing, the amount of work is interesting and adequate. We approach in good shape. — Is it more comfortable to work when almost the entire team has been preserved? — This is awesome! The team has two Gagarin Cups under its belt. I think the team doesn't change much. All the boys are friendly, we communicate well, we spend time together. — CSKA has only five test matches. The experience of last season showed that this is the optimal plan? — I think so. Perhaps this is more than enough. We played the longest, we were given a rest, time to recover. These games will help you get into the season.

The CSKA striker answered several questions not about sport.

— The best place to stay in Moscow?

— My favorite place is my house (laughs). We often walk in Gorky Park, it is located next to the house. I walk with my dog near the house on Ostozhenka — I think that this is one of my favorite streets, we often walk there. 

— The last movie you watched or the book you read?

— The last one is the  Marvel universe movies. I watched all the movies in the correct chronology. "Captain America", "Iron Man" and so on. Yesterday, by the way, I watched "Eternal". As for the series we are now watching with my wife, it's "Hijack", very cool, keeps in suspense. 

I don't read books (laughs). Now I am reading a book about the siege of Leningrad — "The Blockade Book", by Ales Adamovich and Daniil Granin. It tells stories about how people survived — it takes your breath away. These are difficult moments, difficult years. You look at things differently when you come to St. Petersburg. Last year we took an excursion about the siege of Leningrad. We went with a guide, he showed photos, the same house is standing somewhere, you compare. I really liked the tour, I love the theme of the Great Patriotic War. 

— The most extreme act in life? 

— As I said, we went to Turkey, to Cappadocia, in the summer. A famous place, there are a lot of hot air balloons. We saw the whole process — how the balloon is prepared, how it is inflated, this is a special technique.   I said "That's it! I'm not going to fly" (laughs). My wife made me! I was scared when we took off, and she was scared when we lifted to the top. As far as I remember, that the height was 730 meters. It turned out that at the bottom she was calming me, and at the top I was calming her. My wife still wants to jump with a parachute, but I 100% will not dare to do this. 

— What is your favorite dish that you can recommend? 

— I really like pasta — Penne arrabiata. I can recommend it, because I really like a slightly spicy dish. I love home cooking, my wife or my mother cooks when we arrive in Orsk. I often order poke — there's rice, salmon, I put orange, mango there as well. But, really, I eat everything — I'm an omnivore. 

— The best computer game?

— I play Fortnite. In Orsk, when there was an event with the Gagarin Cup, we had a Q&A section. They also asked about games, I said that I play Fortnite and a lot of people responded immediately, I was surprised. You can play with friends, get distracted when the matches are going on all the time, in the playoffs, for example. I unload a little bit. I've been playing it for a long time. 

— Favorite music or band?

— In general, I listen to everything, I like to listen to Russian music. I lived in America, downloaded Love Radio, listened to our music. I like Eminem, MACAN — he's everywhere now, listened to a lot of songs.