The head coach of the youth national team of Ukraine (U-21) Ruslan Rotan gave an interview "Team 1 ".
Ruslan Rotan— Ruslan Petrovych, from now on you are the holder of a coaching diploma of the highest category. Was it tough training?
— It was very interesting. The UAF Licensing Center offered us a varied and rich program. The training took place in several sessions, we listened to lectures by professionals, carried out practical work, exchanged experience with colleagues, took tests and exams. I am very grateful to Valery Shamardin, the head of coaching courses, who was able to bring this matter to an end in such a difficult time. After all, the last two stages of our training took place already during the war.
— Given your busyness at the final session of the PRO diploma, you probably haven't had time to analyze your winning duel with Slovakia yet. Will it be time to sum up now?
— I believe that there is no need to rush to conclusions - the most interesting things for our team are still ahead. We have already analyzed the games with the Slovaks, and now we are preparing for the draw. I already have in my hands the minimum file for all participants of the Youth Euro.
— Who do you want to get as rivals?
— The teams we can beat. It is pleasing that our football players want to play with the strongest national teams. This only shows that the guys are confident in their abilities - they are not afraid to play against anyone. Perhaps this is the most important summary of the selection cycle. Moreover, the key here is to play, not to fight.
— Did you cope with victorious emotions for a long time?
— In football, it is important to switch from one match to the next as quickly as possible. We in the team immediately agreed: we are happy for the day - we will continue to work. In particular, this applies to our football players who returned to the clubs and continued to solve their tournament tasks there.
I see that the vast majority of them left their youth in excellent tone. We continue to monitor each player, keep an eye on potential newcomers, and keep in constant contact with them. In short, we don't have much time to celebrate. And there is nothing to celebrate yet - the main task is to be solved.
I don't like to single out anyone, but Shakhtar's last match against Real Madrid gave me great pleasure and pride for those guys we know well. One of my assistants told them after the matches with Slovakia that he wanted not so much for the European Championship as to continue working with this team. I agree with him - we really have a team with a capital letter. She can continue to surprise her opponents, but for this we will increase the requirements. I think the players will be ready for them.
— The European Championship starts at the end of June, which means that on the eve you will have the opportunity to hold only one gathering - in March. Is it a normal situation in which the national team of a country that aims to get to the Olympics meets only once every six months?
— You do not have completely reliable information. The fact is that we are planning to gather from November 15 to 23, but for this some factors must come together - in Ukraine at this time the competitive cycle will be in full swing...
Let's start with the fact that we all perfectly understand what time we live in. It is a great thing that the championship of Ukraine started at all in the conditions of the war, and for this a special thanks to our soldiers, as well as the heads of the UAF and clubs. The season was started a little late, and for our part, as well as the national team, we asked the UPL not to schedule a tour on the eve of our September matches. This was not due to the desire to gain additional time for preparation.
It is not a matter of this, but of ordinary logistics, because it took us almost a whole day to get to the place of our September deployment. If the tour hadn't been canceled, the players wouldn't have had enough time even to just sleep - let alone work.
— What prevents you from demanding the cancellation of another tour now in order to hold a gathering in November?
— Conscience (smiles). We cannot neglect the interests of the clubs, because they are the ones who prepare football players for the national teams. The more stable the clubs are, the better for us. In this situation, the following decision was made: we will call all our legionnaires to the training in November (perhaps there will be new names among them), as well as those UPL players whom the clubs will agree to release. We understand everything, that's why we don't even raise questions about football players who consistently perform at the base, or just sometimes come on as a substitute. Another thing is guys who don't play at all, but mostly just train. I think this collection will only benefit them.
While preparing for the final round of the Euro, we must not forget that a new cycle for the new youth team will start in September next year, therefore, due to the fact that there is no U-20 national team in Ukraine, we face a difficult task. At the same time, it is necessary to work for the future. In March and June, there may simply not be enough time for this. In addition, judging by the current situation, we do not rule out that some of our leaders may be promoted at any moment. Therefore, you need to constantly look at tomorrow.
— How are the negotiations with the clubs going?
- In different ways, but in general, our request is treated with understanding. For example, Rukh and Chornomorets generally agreed to postpone their match for several days in our interests. There are certain nuances for other teams, but I hope they will be resolved positively. We understand that this is not an official FIFA date (clubs have the right to release only the participants of the World Cup), but according to my information, all the national teams that go to the Youth Euro meet in November. I don't want to give them all a head start from the start.
- Who do you plan to play with?
— There are still enough options. Of course, you have to act quickly without making your opponents wait. But it probably won't hurt to see the results of the draw. That is, we will understand everything only after October 18.
I want to say right away that no matter how this story ends, we will not blame the clubs and UPL for anything. They always came to meet us. I hope it will be the same this time, because everyone perfectly understands that in our difficult time any match of any team on the international arena is an extra opportunity to remind the world that we are at war.
I am very proud that the football players of the youth national team of Ukraine take an example from our soldiers. In our team, it seems that every third player has someone from his family on the front lines - parents, brothers. The guys don't talk much about it, but they do a lot both for them and for other representatives of the Armed Forces...
Yuriy Denisenko
