Roman Pavlyuchenko: Redknapp would always single me out as a bad English-speaker
«Do you remember what time it was when you realised that you are officially a Lokomotiv player?»
«Around 5.30 in the evening, I think. I came to White Hart Lane to train before the Wigan match and the gaffer told me: ‘You don’t need to train, you are free to go.’ I realised then: that’s it, they sold me.»
«Who sent you the funniest text message after your move was finalised?»
«Bilyaletdinov. He told me to make sure my shin pads were well adjusted for the game against Spartak. We had a laugh about it.»
«How many times did Anzhi try to sign you over the last twelve months?»
«None, I think. Not that I know of, anyway. If there was anything concrete – I would have been told. The club who kept trying to get me was Loko – and they did, eventually.»
«You signed a three-and-a-half year deal with the Railwaymen, so by the time it runs out, you’ll be 34. Does that mean you’re done with Europe?»
«Well, in football you can never say never. But I don’t see the point in discussing that now. All I want to focus on at the moment is Lokomotiv.»
«Anyone who’s ever played in Western Europe would say that’s where the real football is, whilst ours is still a kind of surrogate. Would you agree?»
«In Europe people have a different attitude to the game, you can’t even compare it. For example, in Russia you can’t imagine seeing an 80-year-old couple in the stands, but in England you see them all the time. I saw these old folks one time standing up and singing the club anthem – that scene really moved me. They are so frail, it’s hard for them to get up, but they do it anyway. We don’t have that sort of thing here.»
«Why not?»
«Because there people love their players, show them respect. You could even say they treat the players like their own kids. Even if a player is struggling, they don’t have a go at him, but try to cheer him up. Here people just shout abuse at you from the stands. Of course, I don’t mean the vast majority, but some do, while in England you just wouldn’t encounter that sort of thing.»
«In the last few days of the transfer window you kept mentioning the fact that your spouse didn’t want to leave England…»
«Naturally, she wanted to stay: we have a little daughter, who just got the grasp of the language and it was hard taking her out of her element. And life in London is generally quite different, people are not in a constant rush.»
«So you really could have stayed?»
«We talked it over and made the decision together. In a footballer’s family his career has to be a higher priority than comfortable living conditions.»
«What was your most memorable chat with Redknapp about?
«We didn’t really talk much outside work… Actually, one time I was in Moscow and journalists asked me about him: «Why is his face so red, is he a drinker?» I replied: «I don’t know, maybe.» But later he came up to me and said: «Roman, actually, I don’t drink alcohol at all.»»
«Were there Spurs players who struggled more than you with the English language?»
«There were some.»
«Who?»
«I won’t name them. But some were in the side several years before me, and still couldn’t speak the language. I don’t know why Redknapp would always single me out as a bad English-speaker.»
«Why did you find the language so difficult?»
«Because my environment was Russian-speaking: friends from Russia, Russian television. Perhaps if I’d immersed myself in the English-speaking environment, it would have been easier».
«Do you reckon that failing to get the grasp of the language was the main factor the prevented you from becoming a superstar at Spurs?»
«Of course, it played a big role and was a serious problem.»
«Yury Zhirkov recalled that until his wife got her British visa, he practically lived in a Dolce&Gabbana store in London. How often have you been there?»
«A few times, but I didn’t live there.»
«So that famous suit that your teammates teased you about – it came from there?»
«I think so. But it wasn’t the only joke in the dressing room. People would take the mickey out players that came dressed in really colourful clothes – everyone would try and grab a piece of clothing to put on themselves, or hang it somewhere.»
«When I came to visit Tottenham’s training ground, I was blown away by the Ferraris, Bentleys and Aston Martins in the car park. Ironically, Harry Redknapp’s Mercedes was probably the cheapest of the lot. Were you also impressed when you saw that collection?»
«Not really. Russian players have some amazing cars, too. Although one car really stood out – it was Didier Zokora’s jeep that had its whole interior designed and fashioned by Gucci. The roof, the seats – everything had a little Gucci logo on it.»
«Perhaps one day another Russian player will decide to try himself in the Premier League. What advice would you give him?»
«I guess if I could have done things different, I would have put more effort to improve my English – you can’t get anywhere without knowing the language.»