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Russian Pavlyuchenko adapting to English game
By Ken Ferris
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Photo: dailymail.co.uk
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CHIGWELL, England - Russia striker Roman Pavlyuchenko has
started to shine after a slow start at Tottenham Hotspur, the club he
joined in August from Spartak Moscow for 17 million euros ($21.45 million).
Pavlyuchenko arrived in the Premier League with a big reputation after
helping Russia reach the Euro 2008 semi-finals under Dutchman Guus Hiddink
but found life tough in a new country where he did not speak the language.
"From the first game, or maybe even the first training session, I
realised I had to restructure my game," he said. "It's a lot
faster, more mobile and more physically demanding so I definitely needed
to make a change to my game.
"The Premier League is probably one of the best in the world and
one of the most challenging. I have experienced personal growth since
joining this league and I have developed as a player," said Pavlyuchenko
at the club's training ground.
"At least it didn't take me half a year or a year to adjust. Sometimes
foreign players in Russia take that long."
Pavlyuchenko hit the headlines in October 2007 by scoring twice in Russia's
2-1 victory over England in a Euro 2008 qualifier in Moscow.
He followed up by scoring three goals in five games at the finals in Austria
and Switzerland, finding the target against Netherlands and eventual champions
Spain as Russia exceeded expectations by reaching the last four.
Pavlyuchenko struggled at first to make an impact in England, scoring
just once in his first six games for Spurs. But he has now found his feet
at White Hart Lane by notching a total of seven goals in 14 appearances.
DIFFICULT START
That tally includes a goal in every game in the League Cup since he opened
his account at Newcastle United in the third round, helping the holders
reach the semi-finals.
"My game has changed and the results have changed and this is the
obvious thing that everybody notices," he said after Spurs had endured
a difficult start to the season under Spanish manager Juande Ramos before
Harry Redknapp took over.
Ramos said Pavlyuchenko and potential strike partner Darren Bent found
it difficult to play together although the Russian believes they can form
a potent combination.
"It seems everybody keeps saying there's a problem with the two of
us playing together but I don't feel there's a problem providing we play
together more," said Pavlyuchenko after training ahead of Monday's
league game at West Ham United.
"It's too early to judge this partnership. It's impossible to expect
a new player joining the club to fit in immediately with everybody, and
there's a language barrier. But it will come."
The 26-year-old said he enjoyed spending 1-1/2 hours four afternoons a
week learning English but added he disliked the local food so his wife
Larisa always prepares Russian dishes for him and their two-year-old daughter
Kristina.
Pavlyuchenko was born in Mostovskoy and started out with local club Dinamo
Stavropol before moving to Rotor Volgograd in the top flight in 2000.
He joined Spartak in 2003 and was top scorer in the Russian Premier League
in 2006 and 2007.
"I always set a target for the season for how many goals I want to
score," he told Reuters.
"I expect 15 in all competitions (this season) and if I manage 20
that would be superb."
As well as helping Spurs climb the table and progress in the domestic
and UEFA Cup competitions, Pavlyuchenko has his sights on qualifying for
the 2010 World Cup with Russia.
"Now we are being taken seriously by all national teams," he
said proudly. "We have a good chance (of reaching the World Cup)
and we should be able to take it.
"Our previous success we should treat as the absolute bottom line,
the starting point."
UK.reuters.com,
Dec 6, 2008
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