Mad Mac. What you should know about Zenit's newcomer

Spb.site talks about Slovakia national team midfielder Robert Mack, who moved to the St. Petersburg club.

Spb.site talks about the midfielder of the Slovak national team Robert Mack, who

Manchester City Academy product

Source: Manchester Evening News

At the age of 13, city scouts noticed Robert in Slovan and invited him to their academy. Together with fellow countryman Vladimir Weiss, Mack brought City their second ever victory in the FA Youth Cup in the 2007/08 season. In the final they beat their peers from Chelsea.

Twice recognized as the best young football player in Slovakia

In 2010 and 2011, Mack received the Petr Dubovsky Award, named after the ex-footballer of Real Madrid and the Slovak national team, who tragically died at the age of 28. In June 2000, Peter went on vacation to Thailand. Having climbed a high cliff in order to take a beautiful photo, he fell and fell on the stones. The last match in the striker’s career came against the Russian national team, which ended in a draw - 1:1.

Played in Ivan Saenko's former club

Mack could not withstand the high competition to get into the Manchester City team and in 2010 signed a contract with Nuremberg. In four years in the Bundesliga, he scored eight goals and provided seven assists.

Once transferred to the reserve team due to a conflict with the coach

The incident occurred in October 2012, when Mack was playing for Nuremberg. After three defeats in a row in the Bundesliga, by the break his team was losing to Freiburg in the next round with a score of 0:2. Head coach Dieter Hecking decided to replace Mack, and the player did not like it. Later on his Twitter, the footballer expressed dissatisfaction with the coach’s decision, for which he was subsequently sent to the reserve team for three games.

Already played at the Petrovsky Stadium

Two years ago, Russia played a friendly match against Slovakia in St. Petersburg. Fabio Capello's team won 1:0 thanks to a goal from Alexander Kerzhakov. Mack then entered the starting lineup and spent 90 minutes on the field. Mack next faced the Russians in the group stage of Euro 2016. In the victorious match, Robert left the field in the 80th minute, and a minute later Denis Glushakov scored a goal. Coincidence?

Met with Krasnodar in the Europa League

Another meeting between Mack and Russia took place in the Europa League 2015/16. Then PAOK, owned by Russian businessman Ivan Savvidi, met with Krasnodar. The Greeks played a draw at home and lost in Krasnodar with a score of 1:2.

In the matches with Borussia (Dortmund), the Greek team was more fortunate - a 1:1 draw at home and a 1:0 victory away. All three PAOK goals in the tournament were scored by Robert Mack.

Stopped the Greek Cup

In the semi-finals of the Greek Cup 2015/16, PAOK met with Olympiacos. Such matches always turn out fiery, and this was not the case here. In the 89th minute, Mack was brought down in the penalty area, but the referee did not see a violation of the rules. This made Robert so angry that he spat at the assistant judge, and away he went. A huge crowd of fans, which had previously reached a boil, broke through the police cordon and ran out onto the field. After the riots, the country's government decided cancel the Greek Cup .

Slovak Zhemaletdinov

In an interview with the site, defender of the Slovak national team Jan Durica spoke about some of his team partners : Tomas Hubocan is the sleepiest, Marek Hasek is the most fashionable. Here's what the ex-Lokomotiv player said about Mack:
– A flank player who can beat any opponent with speed. When we run at training camp, you can feel it. Robert has all the qualities to win on the flank and prove himself in attack at the Euro. He and Rifat Zhemaletdinov from Loko are similar in build. Both have crazy power.

source: “Soviet sport in St. Petersburg”

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Robert Mak is a Slovak football player, midfielder for Zenit and the Slovak national team. He took his first steps in the football field as part of Slovan Bratislava, and in 2004 he ended up at the City academy. Robert performed well in the City youth team, won the 2008 FA Cup, but after the massive purchase of world-famous stars, he lost his chances of breaking into the starting lineup. In 2010 he went to Nuremberg, where he was gradually able to gain a foothold in the starting lineup. After the team was relegated to the Second Bundesliga, he went to PAOK, where he spent two fruitful seasons, scoring 14 goals in 54 matches. In the summer of 2016, he went to the European Championship with the Slovak national team and played here in three group stage matches. Soon after the end of the tournament, he moved to Zenit St. Petersburg, signing a four-year contract.

• Full name: Robert Mak
• Date and place of birth: March 8, 1991, Bratislava (Czechoslovakia)
• Role: winger

Robert Mack's club career

Born in one of the central districts of Bratislava into a sports family. His father was actively involved in football in his youth, but never became a professional. Robert himself attended various sports clubs from an early age and was already thinking about his football future:

“I believe I inherited the football genes from my father, who played it in his youth. However, dad didn’t insist on anything; I myself liked to just kick the ball. I first thought about the fact that football would become my life when I was a child.”

Robert's father was a fan of the local Slovan and soon enrolled his six-year-old son in the team's academy. In a team made up of boys born in 1991, Mac won various national and regional tournaments, thanks to which he attracted the attention of Manchester City scouts. At that time, the modest Manchester team had one of the best academies in England, which successfully trained players for the main team. In the summer of 2006, Mack ended up in Manchester, where, in addition to him, Slovenians Vladimir Weiss and Philip Mentel trained. In his debut match for the City youth team, Robert scored a double, and two years later won the FA Youth Cup.

In the 2009/10 season, he was the leader of City's second team, playing as a center forward and left winger, scoring 7 goals in 15 matches. The footballer himself tried to play according to the example of his idol Thierry Henry, who, like Mack, had excellent speed and technique. Everything was going to the point that Robert would soon become City’s main forward, but Qatari investments came to the team, and with them world stars, with whom there was no point in fighting. City bosses, for the sake of decency, offered their pupil a professional contract, but he refused it, moving to the German Nuremberg. Robert was also claimed by PSV, Feyenoord, Sampdoria, Reims and other middling Ligue 1 teams.

"Nuremberg"

On August 28, 2010, the midfielder made his debut for the new team in the Bundesliga match against Freiburg (1-2). Two matches later he scored his debut goal against Kaiserslautern, but his team also lost this match (1-3). The Reds lost the first five matches in which the Slovakian took the field. However, then the team was able to gain momentum, and Mack began to appear in the starting lineup more often and scored two more goals. In the following seasons, he was more of a rotation player, as he appeared in the start quite rarely. He played as a right midfielder and was twice named the team's best young player. Over four seasons, Mack played in 75 matches, scored 6 goals and provided 5 assists. German specialist Ditter Hecking, who at one time initiated Robert’s transfer to Nuremberg, noted that the Slovakian still needs to work on himself, and if he does this, he has every chance of becoming a world-famous star.

"PAOK"

After Nuremberg's relegation to the Second Bundesliga, Mack decided to try his hand at PAOK. By that time, he had good experience playing in the Slovakian national team and was highly rated among the European middle peasants and outsiders. At PAOK, Mack quickly became a leader and already in his debut season he was able to score 7 goals and give out 5 assists. In the 2015/16 season, he helped the Greeks in the Europa League, scoring goals in the group stage matches against Krasnodar and Borussia Dortmund. In addition, even at the qualifying stage of this tournament, Robert scored the debut hat-trick of his career, defeating Brøndby.

"Zenith"

Relatively successful performances at the 2016 European Championship helped Robert get into the Zenit club, a large club by European standards. On July 18, the parties announced that they had reached a preliminary agreement, and on July 22, the midfielder underwent a medical examination and signed a contract for five years. The transfer amount was 3.5 million euros, and the player's salary was 1.3 million per year. Mak became the third Slovak in the history of the St. Petersburg team after Skrtel and Hubocan. Due to a delay in obtaining a work visa, Robert did not have time to play in Zenit’s victorious Russian Super Cup against Lokomotiv (1-0).

International career of Robert Mack

He played in the youth and youth teams of the Slovak national team, playing a total of 38 matches in the under-17, under-19 and under-21 teams. On February 6, 2013, he made his debut in the main team in a match against the Belgian national team. He scored his first goal in November of the same year, hitting the goal of Poland. On September 8, 2014, he scored the only goal in the confrontation with the Ukrainian national team. Subsequently, he regularly appeared as a starter in the qualifying matches for Euro 2016, scoring a double in the match against Iceland. In the summer of 2016, he went with the team to Euro 2016, played here in three group stage matches, notching an assist in the confrontation with Wales.

Achievements of Robert Mack

Manchester City U-21

• FA Cup Winner 2008

• Finalist of the Greek Cup 2015

It became clear at the age of 13 that he would become a football player of a serious level. He took his first steps with the ball at the academy of Slovan Bratislava, his favorite childhood club, his team became the best in Slovakia, and he was targeted by scouts from all over Europe. Manchester City, which was not yet flush with money at that time, was the best to rush in, and was also recruiting a Slovak colony. We've already been to the City academy with Mack Vladimir Weiss(also reached the Slovak national team) and Philip Mentel(he has been without a club for almost four years, having terminated his contract with the Scottish Dundee United).

Mac had a great start in Manchester. After the first match for the youth team, against Middlesbrough, City coaches praised Mack - he scored two goals, the townspeople won 4:2. Then he rose to the youth team, to the reserve team, but was unable to fight for a place in the team. City had just started buying stars, but there was no place for the guys from the academy. Including Robert.

Of many options, he chose Nuremberg - not only because of the team's prospects, but also thanks to his Slovak predecessors: Mack was not personally acquainted with Robert Wittek And Marek Mintal, but heard about their successes in Nuremberg. I personally called him there Dieter Hecking, building a team for the future. Nuremberg immediately took 6th place in a wild Bundesliga season, when Mainz won 8 matches in a row, and Borussia Dortmund was heading towards the long-awaited championship.

Mack is a versatile artist; he can play in any position in the attacking trio.

Mack himself was a rotation player - in his first season he played 22 matches for Nuremberg, starting only 6 times. Over the years the situation has not changed. In the second season - 19 games, in the third - 16, in the fourth - 18... And each time Robert was predominantly a substitution player - over these four years, Mac played only seven entire Bundesliga matches. It is not surprising that Robert was not in good standing in the Slovak national team either: he was called up, but played little.

How does he play?

When Mack plays on the wing, his best skill is dribbling. He very boldly dribbles, using both legs, runs 30-40 meters with the ball, beating his opponents along the way. If you remember Slovakia’s goal against Wales at Euro 2016, it was Mack who organized it, sprinting almost from the middle of the field to someone else’s penalty area and laying the ball out for Duda to hit. He has two favorite feints that were performed regularly in the Greek Championship: the first is to receive the ball, stop with it at his feet and sharply move to the center, the second is the “snail”, a 180-degree turn with the ball. When dribbling, Mack tends to regularly change sides of movement, moving from the wing to the center, shifting the ball from one foot to the other.

In Greece, he was really very good - in all tournaments he scored 19 goals in a “double-headed eagles” T-shirt and tormented defenders.

In Greece, the defenders never figured out his style; Mack made 5 successful dribbles per game.

Mack runs very fast, both with and without the ball. Flank defenders who love to attack are doomed to be his victims - Robert waits for them to pull out of their zone, asks his comrades for a pass behind his back and accelerates sharply, as if he has a pair of jetpacks behind him. Usually Mack does not have enough strength to deliver an accurate shot after such a sprint; the situation is better with passes - the Slovak mostly crosses or serves in such episodes.

Over the past year in the Greek Super League, Mack has scored 7 goals - most of them as an attacking tip. Playing at the forefront of the attack, Robert strives to cling to the offside line and open up “too thin.” It often happens - for example, in the Europa League, Mack scored twice against Borussia Dortmund, clinging to this line. The goal was especially impressive in Thessaloniki, where Mack hit the crossbar.

With all this, the player is a very team player. He works conscientiously in defense, helping the full-back. The game of the Slovak national team at the Euro is indicative in this regard - all the Slovaks’ opponents, except Russia, tried to crack the wrong flank with a link Pekarika and Maka, and the left, where Vladimir Weiss came out, a player unwilling to clean up from behind. In rough work Mac is stronger and Hulk, And Oleg Shatov.

How can Zenit use it?

Mack is a versatile artist; he can play in any position in the attacking trio. In what Igor Tudor who replaced him in the spring Vladimir Ivich they treated Mack the same way - they played either as the tip of the attack, or under the striker, or as a left winger, depending on the game task. In the Slovakian national team, Robert is tied to the right flank - the left edge is covered by Vladimir Weiss, and there are no other flank midfielders of this level in the country.

If Zenit really buys Mak, Mircea Lucescu will most likely use it the same way as Jan Kozak at Euro 2016 - on the right wing of the attack. He will not have a mission to “replace the Hulk” (firstly, they are players of different strengths, and secondly, of different classes - it is simply impossible to replace the Hulk, he is unique), but he will play with quality, feed off passes Artyom Dzyuba Mac can do it as regularly as the Brazilian superhero did. With Oleg Shatov playing left midfielder, Robert can switch places - much like Shatov swapped with Hulk throughout the spring of 2016.

What's Mack like off the field?

He is a homebody. Mac is very attached to his family, and this has been the case since his youth. When Robert moved to the Manchester City academy, he had difficulty adapting to English life, did not know the language, and was only friends with Weiss and Mentel. His parents, who came to Robert in 2007, a year after moving, helped him get used to Manchester. “The moments with family are truly magical,” Mac says sincerely.

He values ​​his wife just as much. Zuzku. In 2010, when Robert chose Nuremberg, the girl moved to Mack in Germany. Four years later they got married. Robert and Zuzka are already raising two sons, Robina And Alexey. So don’t expect stories with clubs and expensive champagne from Mac.

What is his weak point?

Robert Mack's main weakness is not speed or technique, but his too long tongue. In October 2012, Mack played with Nuremberg in Freiburg, had a weak first half, and Club coach Dieter Hecking, in order to stir up the team, removed the Slovakian from the field. Mack did not remain in debt - he immediately tweeted: “Football is fucking politics. I hate him. Damn coach! And this is to soften the expressions further. Then, however, Mac quickly backtracked - first he apologized to the public, then he wrote that his account had been hacked.

If Zenit does buy Mack, Mircea Lucescu will most likely use him in the same way as Jan Kozak at Euro 2016 - on the right wing of the attack.

Consistently, and you won’t find fault.

The evening after the game, Robert deleted his account, and the next morning he sent an SMS to Hecking with an apology. He reacted to Mac’s words with irony: “I myself have five children, I know that sometimes they can blurt out something wrong.” But still he sent the Slovak to the regional league of Bavaria, to run for the second team of Nuremberg.

This spring, Mac said too much again. The darkest page of his Greek career was the Greek Cup semi-final with Olympiacos, the penalty he earned, and the silence of the referee. Then they started throwing pyrotechnics from the fan sector, and the police attacked the fans with tear gas. A commotion broke out in the stands, because of which the match was canceled, and the Greek Football Federation wanted to stop the championship. After that match, Mack said that he wanted to leave Greece forever, but then he cooled down and explained this only with undisguised bitterness. His phrase, which says a lot about the Greek championship: “When you play with Olympiacos, your chances are always not 50 to 50, but 20 to 80!” To beat them is the icing on the cake of the season, to score against them is to go crazy.” And Mack, a guy with a long tongue, certainly did not express in numbers only the gaming advantage of the “legend”. So it definitely won’t be boring with Robert.

In the person of the 25-year-old Slovak, Zenit received a real rocket - Robert Mak is a sharp, explosive footballer, capable of high-speed dribbling and justified risk. With his help, Mircea Lucescu will be able to revive any flank, and also count on strengthening the attack and the zone under the attackers. True, the “launch” is postponed at least until the next round: Mack still has to get a work visa. So far, the guy who looks like the twin brother of the Czech Milan Baros is getting comfortable in St. Petersburg and giving his first big interview.

The difficulties of Greek

Robert, Anderlecht made you a good offer, and your edgy style suits a club that has always welcomed strong wingers. Why did you choose Zenit?
- That’s right, the Belgians were persistent and I liked their offer. Anderlecht is a great club, but still I decided that Zenit was more ambitious, I felt that I could help them. In addition, our family council decided that we would be better off in Russia. And the Russian league is somewhat stronger than the Belgian one. Actually, these are the factors that played a key role.

- But Anderlecht, as well as your former club PAOK, by the way, participate in the Champions League...
- So far in the preliminary round (Laughs). I watched the match between PAOK and Ajax and really rooted for my recent partners. After a 1:1 away draw, they have a very good chance of progressing. I really want this to happen. After all, I still have a lot of friends in Thessaloniki, and in my memories PAOK will always be in first place. It is possible that someday I will return there...

- Have you learned to speak Greek?
- Not particularly, although I learned English in England and German in Germany. Just after two years, things started to work out, but right now I had to leave.

- At Zenit there will be someone to help with Greek...
-Yes, yes, exactly, goalkeeper! (Yuri Lodygin - “Sport Day by Day”). We have already talked and found common themes. I’m not sure, however, that it will be possible to speak Greek (Laughs).

- Have you already started discussing Zenit and St. Petersburg with Skrtel and Hubocan at the Euro in France?
- To be honest, there was not a word about it! We are completely focused on the tournament. And only later, when I had already rested and returned to Greece, they told me that the club had decided to sell me for good money, and I had to decide where exactly I would go. I chose St. Petersburg. Only shortly before leaving I talked with Hubochan, who told me that Zenit is number one in Russia and always fights for the championship and the Champions League. I liked it and so did my family.

When you were fifteen and you left Bratislava for Manchester City, there was no family and you, they say, were worried that she was not around...
- At first it was like that, but then my parents began to come to me in England. In fact, moving to Manchester was a great career move - not every 15-year-old gets the chance to go to England and grow up at such an early age. Moreover, Vladimir Weiss Jr. was already there, and then several more Slovaks arrived. So I already liked everything!

- It is believed that not everyone in England knows how to work with young football players...
- Everything at City was at the highest level. And the training with local coaches was also good.

- Why didn’t you stay there? Did coach Roberto Mancini miss you?
- I stayed at City for four years. A new owner arrived from the Middle East, and it became clear that the bet would be placed on the stars. It was obvious to me that there was no point in waiting in the wings, and I decided to move to Germany to get playing practice.

"The death of one is bread for others"

At Nuremberg you became famous for reacting nervously on Twitter to coach Dieter Hecking replacing you at half-time in the Freiburg match. Are you always this emotional?
- Then it was definitely emotions. In fact, I was very young, I was not yet used to the fact that anything can happen in football and I was not ready for that replacement. It’s all behind us now; that story taught me a lot.

Hecking responded to your tirade outwardly calmly, saying that he has five children and he knows that children often make mistakes. Moreover, before he left the club, you rarely appeared on the field...
- I actually spent a couple of months in the second team, but I didn’t have any personal problems with the coach before he left.

You said when you moved to PAOK that you were glad to get a taste of football again and freedom on the field, compared to Germany. Are you upset by the Dutchman Gertjan Verbeek, who coached Nuremberg just before relegation from the Bundesliga? When you were injured, he said: “The death of one is bread for others.” Isn't it too brutal?
- Over the two or three seasons that I spent in the Bundesliga, I had the feeling that I was not showing everything I was capable of. In addition, I started playing for the Slovak national team and wanted to gain a foothold in it. Therefore, I think it was the right decision to go to Greece. At the same time, I want to say that the Bundesliga, like England, became a school for me that gave me a lot as a football player. It's just quite difficult to have fun when they don't trust you - I played very little under Verbeek. And it’s great that they continued to invite me to the national team, it helped me a lot.

- What exactly did the Bundesliga give you?
- The players there have a completely different mentality! When you are 19-20 years old and you find yourself in such a rhythm and with such partners, you get a unique experience. In Germany there is a very high level of training work, every coach knows his job thoroughly, this, I think, helped me significantly.

The same Hecking said about you that “if Mac gets in shape and runs, his breakthroughs are almost impossible to stop”...
-...maybe, but I repeat, I did not always feel the trust of the coaches at Nuremberg. The fear of making a mistake often arose. That you do something wrong and you will be replaced. It was constraining and not enjoyable.

The fact that your partner - especially in Nuremberg's last season in the Bundesliga - after you won the ball for him, fired forward without any address - was it also not a pleasure?
- No, these are nuances; there are a million such situations in football. They had no influence on my desire to change the situation and try myself in another championship.

- Do you have any friends in Germany with whom you still communicate?
- I don’t communicate with anyone anymore, unfortunately. Although we kept in touch with the Czechs Peckhart and Petrak for a long time, both were with me at Nuremberg.

- What Hecking was talking about - your explosive manner, speed, sharpness- Is it all from nature, or can it be trained?
- This is nature. Nobody can take this away from me! (Laughs). I've always been like this for as long as I can remember.

- You are not afraid of high-speed dribbling, now there are fewer and fewer such brave players...
- I think that a player with such data as mine is obliged to try dribbling at speed. Moreover, if since childhood your favorite thing was to beat your opponents and score goals...

How to prevent Alba from running away

- Zenit coach Mircea Lucescu has already shared his views on football and what he wants to see from you?
- No, nothing like this has happened yet! I’m still at the stage of resolving the issue with a work visa, so, in fact, I won’t play against Lokomotiv. I’ll fly home for a while, settle all these matters, and then I can fully start preparing for the matches. It’s clear that no one will just give me a place in the lineup, this doesn’t happen anywhere in the world. Therefore, I will try my best to convince the coach that he needs me.

As far as I understand, you also have no problems with your character. You succeed in the most important matches: in the qualifying round of the European Championship with Spain, when Slovakia won 2:1, the victory over Ukraine in Kyiv 1:0, the same match with Russia at the Euro - Robert Mack always played at a high level. And Jan Kozak, the coach of your team, was very worried that you would not play in the 1/8 finals with the Germans...
- In principle, every match should be perceived as the most important, but in fact there are games where you doubly bend over backwards. Against Spain, we had to play in a special way, endure a lot and not open up. Flying to Spain at breakneck speed is an idea without a chance! My task then was to prevent Jordi Alba from running away. To do this, it was necessary to both defend carefully and push forward yourself. Everything worked out as it should, our whole team performed a miracle in that match.

Yaroslav Rakitsky from the Ukrainian national team probably still hasn’t forgotten how you, turning 180 degrees, flew past him and scored the winning goal in Kyiv...
- It was a good game, and, in fact, it started our winning streak of five matches, when we, in fact, became one of the favorites to get into France. In the final stage, everything also went well, until we ran into the Germans. It was obvious to everyone that they were stronger...

- Besides the fact that you played at Euro 2016 against the Russian national team (Slovakia won 2:1- “Sport Day by Day”) did you have any idea about Russian football?
- None. Besides, I heard that you have good players and strong clubs.

You played against Georgy Shchennikov and the entire defense of CSKA, whom Zenit will meet twice more this season...
- To be honest, I didn’t care who I was playing against. On the field you simply don’t bother yourself with last names. You do your job and that's it.

The match for PAOK with Brondby in the Europa League (5:1), when you scored three goals and helped your teammates score twice, was it the best in your career, or was there something very special?
- I played a lot of good matches at PAOK. And the two goals against Dortmund last season will also not be forgotten so quickly - even if the away game with Borussia did not decide anything, the 1-0 victory at a crowded Westfalenstadion was still historic for the club. I scored in both matches against the Germans, it was an incredible feeling. PAOK fans are able to create such an atmosphere that it is difficult for everyone in Thessaloniki to play. In general, it’s easy to play good football in a team to which you are grateful for a chance in life and in a city where everyone loves you.

- You also didn’t have time to evaluate the Krasnodar players, who were in the same group?
- I remember that this is a good team - we played 0:0 at home and lost away. But, of course, I don’t remember specific players, although they gave the impression of being skilled craftsmen.

- Didn’t you really want to imitate anyone from childhood?
- No, imagine. I liked different players, I wanted to learn something from each one. But I never had an idol.

- Marek Hamsik - no too?
- The main strength of the Slovak team in the last cycle was that we all stuck together. No matter what happens. That's why they performed successfully.

No favorite coaches

- You have already spent a week in St. Petersburg. Did you see anything other than the training field?

Not really yet. I am looking for housing that would be comfortable for me and my family. For now I live in a hotel. I don’t have a car, I don’t know the city, so you won’t get around much. Although I know that St. Petersburg is beautiful. Zuzka, my wife, will arrive, we’ll settle in and start exploring.

- Are you looking for housing in the historical center, or closer to work?
- The priority is the comfort of my children. One child is two years old, the second is six months old. Moreover, one was born in Greece, and the other in Slovakia.

- If you compare the conditions in which Zenit, Nuremberg and PAOK train...
- And here everything is perfectly organized, both in Germany and in Greece. No contrast, by and large.

- Do you have a favorite coach?
- I didn’t have many of them. Three in Germany, two found in Greece. The Slovak team included Michal Hipp, then Jan Kozak. That's all, actually. I don’t have any favorite people, I tried to behave professionally with everyone.

- Have you found a friend at Zenit?
- Not yet, I try to communicate with everyone, no problems.

- Do you already understand Russian?
- Something. It's similar to Slovak, so I think you won't have any problems mastering it over time.

- Where did you watch the match with CSKA?
- On TV at the hotel, I didn’t fly to Moscow. Zenit confidently and deservedly won and dominated the entire match.

- You will have to fly a lot around Russia...
- In Greece we also flew to matches. I asked Zenit about this, they told me that the longest journey is four hours. It's quite possible to survive. You said that there was a city where it took ten hours to fly. It's just good that there are no more (Laughs). In fact, it’s interesting to travel around your country and see different cities. I've never been here before. I won’t have any free time, so at least I’ll study it on trips...

MAC WILL NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS AT ZENIT

Mack can play in any Russian team. He is a very good football player and will help Zenit. Robert is ripe for great success, this is a good option for Zenit,” noted.

- Is this a worthy acquisition for Zenit?

Yes, he will grab a place in the starting lineup and will play calmly.

- Did the midfielder attract attention with his performance at the European Championship?

It is unlikely that the St. Petersburg team drew conclusions from the three games at the tournament. Mack had a good season in Greece; if Zenit was following him, they should have liked him.

- You crossed paths with him in the Slovakian national team. What is the Mac like in everyday life?

Cheerful boy. Constantly smiling, looking for positivity. He won't have any problems in the new team.

- Mac is a graduate of Manchester City.

This is a very good school. He left for England as a young, promising guy. After that, he played great in Germany and Greece.

- He spent his entire career in Europe, playing for Nuremberg and PAOK. Will there be any problems adapting to the new country?

The only obstacle can be the language barrier. Robert, if I'm not mistaken, does not speak Russian, but he has no problems with English and German. In St. Petersburg, I’m sure many football players communicate in English, so they will find contact quickly.

- Isn’t it a big problem for a Slovak to learn Russian?

Right. Our languages ​​are very similar, a couple of weeks and Robert will understand everything.

MAC IS ONE OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN SLOVAKIA

- What position can he play?

On the left and right edge of midfield. Versatile player.

- Tell us about his strengths.

Speed ​​is the main trump card. He is a very fast player with a good pass. This is the player who will suit Dzyuba very well.

- So, a replacement for the Hulk?

It's not easy to find someone like a Brazilian. At some points, Mack may resemble the Hulk, but they are still different performers.

- Dziuba just needs someone who will supply him with programs.

This is what Robert will do 100 percent.

- Can you highlight any weaknesses?

If Zenit is interested in him, it means they have managed to study Robert inside and out.

- Does he have leadership qualities?

Mack is one of the four or five leaders of the Slovak national team. He spent almost the entire Euro 2016 qualifying tournament, scoring goals. I can say that Robert is one of the best football players in the country.

- Is Mac susceptible to injuries or do they avoid him?

Pah-pah, but he rarely received damage. Everything is like the average football player.

- Is moving to Russia a step forward?

Certainly. Look at his career - he has been in Europe since childhood. At the age of 25, he has more than 30 caps for the first team and has a lot of experience. This is an established footballer.

June 15. Lille. Russia - Slovakia - 1:2. Robert MAK (right) against Zenit player Oleg SHATOV. Photo by Alexander FEDOROV, "SE"

I GUARANTEE THAT STORIES WITH CHAMPAGNE
MAC WILL NOT HAVE AT ZENIT

- What is his hobby outside the field?

I haven’t heard of fishing or hunting. He has a family, he spends almost all his time on it. Personally, I like a lot of things in Russia; it is possible that Robert, like me, will become addicted to the bathhouse and fishing. Then I will definitely come and visit him ( laughs).

- So, we won’t see a video with champagne from a nightclub performed by him?

- (Laughs.) I guarantee it. Only some people can do such stupid things.

- If he asks for your advice, what can you tell us about our country?

Only good. I won’t say anything bad, because I myself played in Russia for many years and fell in love with it. I have many friends here.

- Were there any scandals involving Mac?

There was one moment in Nuremberg when not everything worked out for him on the football field. He left a careless comment, after which he had to apologize. But nothing criminal happened then. Everyone does stupid things in life, I think Robert did them and we will never see anything like that again.

- Have you heard about interest in Mack from other clubs?

I read in the Slovak press after the European Championship that there was attention to the leading players of the national team; agents wanted to place them in the best clubs.

- Is 3.5 million euros a good amount for a transfer?

It’s not for me to judge, I’m not a football agent. Therefore, I will leave this question without comment.

- What do you wish for Robert at Zenit?

To begin with, I would like to go there. The main thing is to avoid injuries. He can handle everything else. There is no need to even worry about his future in Russia.