Luis Chávez gives first interview since moving to Dynamo Moscow

Last week Luis Chávez moved to Russian side Dynamo Moscow to fulfil a lifelong dream of playing in Europe.

The 27-year-old midfielder had starred in Liga MX for Tijuana and Pachuca and has become a key part of the Mexican national team squad in the past year.

In late August Chávez signed a four-year-deal with the Russian club, but admitted in a recent interview with TUDN that some elements of the move represent a major challenge.

“Within football it is not that difficult, the language of football is universal,” he explained. “But there are things that get a little complicated.”

“My South American teammates are going to be very useful to me and they are trying to help me adapt as quickly as possible” said Chávez.

The former Pachuca midfielder went into more detail about the nature of the technical talks with coach Marcel Licka.

“Normally the manager only speaks Russian with the team, and the translators translate what he is telling us,” Chávez explained.

Chávez: ‘The first days were difficult’

The cultural change from Mexico to Russia is difficult to overstate and Chávez will need some time to adapt to a new way of life. After spending the first 27 years of his life in South America, he now moves to the Eastern edge of Europe for the next stage of his career.

Initially, the time difference was a major issue as Chávez sought to integrate himself with the team.

”There were difficult first days. Now I’m starting to adapt a little to the schedule, especially at night, to be able to sleep,” he said.

“I’ve had four or five training sessions with the team, things are getting better and we hope to continue improving.”

Criticism will not affect Chávez

After being linked to a move to the top European leagues, many were surprised to see the Mexican international sign for a team in the Russian Premier League. The 27-year-old has been criticised in some quarters for the decision, but he insists that he has made the right decision for his career.

“In the media and online I’ve seen people say that this league is lower than the Mexican one. One day I will tell you if it is or not, but what I have seen is that it is of a high level,” he insisted.

“The demand, the rhythm, there are other forms of play, other ideas. They play on par with teams from Mexico without being as well-known.”

Above all else, Chávez said that he feels welcome in his new home and enjoys the faith that his new manager has placed in him.

“From the first moment they contacted me they expressed their feelings to me, how important it could be,” he said. “That makes a difference. They made and effort, were patience and I am grateful.”