Press conference
“After one year of absence we are back in Europe’s most elitist competition, where so far we have been able to claim one silver and two bronze medals” says the General Director, Valentin Rotavchikov. “We were assigned to a very difficult preliminary group including Poland’s PGE Skra BELCHATOW and Fenerbahce Grundig ISTANBUL of Turkey. We still want to fight for the maximum result and turn every single game played by Dinamo into something to remember”.
The players added to the roster – Semen Poltavsky, Bartosz Kurek, Grigory Afinogenov and Alexander Krivets – received their official playing uniforms.
Poland’s major star Kurek expressed his confidence for good results and intention to work hard for the likes of Dinamo. “I am still not very familiar with the language but it is great to be part of such a team like Dinamo. I look forward to the start of the season and I expect great matches especially as we will play my former team of PGE Skra BELCHATOW in the prelims of the Champions League” he said.
“The drawing assigned us to a very tough Pool” added head coach Yuri Cherednik. “As far as I know, Fenerbahce did significantly strengthen their roster and they have called a very good coach, Daniele Bagnoli, who is well-known also here in Russia. It will be very interesting to play such a good team, especially away, where their fans are always very passionate. PGE Skra also belongs to Europe’s elite, they finished second last year as they organized the final four and I am sure that some 15’000 fans will come together in Lodz for our match”.
Last year Dinamo claimed the CEV Volleyball Cup and Cherednik also reflected about this campaign: “To finally claim the trophy we were first confronted with six good opponents. And the final matches with Asseco Resovia RZESZOW were very dramatic and intense. However, as we are back in the Champions League, our intention is to fight for the top of the tables”.
