Maksim Mukhin: Grandpa is my biggest fan

— Maksim, tell us about your football youth: why did you choose football, who brought you?
— My grandfather started to play ball with me in the yard when I was three and a half, then, at about the age of four, he brought me to a football school. I got accepted to the Yuri Konoplev Academy at six, where I played for ten years, after which I moved to the Krylia Sovetov youth team.

— Does grandpa watch your progress?
— Of course, he cares the most, he is my biggest fan.

— What do you do besides football?
— I can go out for a walk with friends, go to the movie with my girlfriend. Go ice skating, do some other sports. I like billiards, tennis, hockey.

— You said that you found out about the call up to the national team when you were cooking buckwheat with your girlfriend. How did you find out about the option with PFC CSKA?
— My agent called me, said that the club was interested in me. I was pleasantly surprised, negotiations began.

— You have already talked with Aleksey Vladimirovich, what did he tell you?
— This will be between us. I can say that I have to work, work and work again.

— You are quite a non-standard defensive midfielder. Wernbloom was remembered in this role before you, and in general there is a stereotype that defensive midfielder «fights» on the field…
— There is such a defensive midfielder as Kante. Not big, not tall, but he fights for every ball. He is an example for me.

— How did the guys react to your move?
— Everyone welcomed me fine. Competition is good.

— What did Euro give you?
— First of all, experience. Playing against footballers who play in such leagues is a very big step in your career.

— What tasks do you set for yourself next season?
— I would like to score already, give an assist too.

— Have you always played a defensive midfielder?
— No, I played winger, attacking midfielder in the youth team.