Zhbanov: Toughest Pre-Season Under Ivanovic at Zenit
Zenit forward Georgi Zhbanov says Dusko Ivanovic's demanding methods pushed him through the hardest pre-season training of his career.
Georgi Zhbanov has been through what he calls the toughest pre-season of his career, and puts it down to Dusko Ivanovic's arrival at Zenit.
"I read about his physical demands and adjusted my summer training. I rethought my preparation a little over the summer and prepared more thoroughly for this season, so I feel great. These are probably the toughest training sessions of my professional career in a pre-season. We love the game. The grind stays with us," Zhbanov said.
Ivanovic took charge of Zenit after the club's disappointing 2025/26 season. Zhbanov, a 28-year-old forward, started his career at Nizhny Novgorod in 2016 and is entering his fourth season in St Petersburg.
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