Ruslan Rotan: "Remember how much time Dynamo had to rest and prepare for the season, and how much time Shakhtar had"

The head coach of the youth team of Ukraine Ruslan Rotan, who is celebrating his birthday today, gave an interview to the portal "Team 1 ".

- Ruslan Petrovich, in what mood are you celebrating your holiday?

— I don't think any holidays are possible in our time. The whole country is conscientiously working on the common and main cause of our life, the solution of which will allow all of Ukraine to celebrate well. Of course, my relatives congratulated me, and we will have a quiet dinner with the family.

— Your football family is successfully solving its problem on its front. Are you happy with it, of course?

- Yes, I'm proud of our guys - and I spoke about this even when they still didn't succeed. I know how they reacted to the results of the draw for the final part of the European Championship, and as a coach, I am certainly satisfied with the mood of the team. Ukrainian football should be adequately represented at the Youth Euro 2023 and the Ukrainian Armed Forces will serve as an example for us.

- This autumn is shaping up differently for the clubs of the players of the youth team. Point-blank question - what, in your opinion, with Dynamo?

— The team is not going through the best period in its history, but we should not forget that this period is only a few months. Something broke there, and I am sure that such an experienced coach as Mircea Lucescu will find a way out of the situation. Do not forget that Dynamo has many young performers, and at this age it is not at all easy to quickly and correctly respond to stressful situations.

In the last game, for example, in the main team of Kiev, four players born in 2002 entered the field at once, and these are football players who, due to their age, can play for the youth team in the next cycle. It gives me confidence knowing that these guys are working under the guidance of such a specialist as Lucescu.

I'll give you a common example. In May, when we got together after a very long break, everyone was just talking about the lack of proper preparation and playing tone of the players. However, when I saw the condition in which the players of Shakhtar and Dynamo came to the youth team, I immediately realized that there would be no problems with all the questions that were of concern to everyone. And I am very grateful, including to Mircea Lucescu, that with his professional work he helped our team solve an important task. I note that the decline in the Dynamo game is a matter of only two months, and in winter it can be corrected. In addition, such a coach, who is one of the symbols of Ukrainian football.

- There is not even a hint of any decline in Shakhtar...

— I am very happy for the results and, above all, the play of the miners. While this is the pride of all our football. But comparing the situations in the two best clubs in Ukraine is impossible with all the desire.

Remember how much time the Dynamo players had for rest and preparation for the season, and how much the Shakhtar players had. Remember the expectations of professionals. Of course, the miners are more liberated - they were also given a maximum of one point in the Champions League group. And Dynamo were awarded the championship title even before the start of the season. And today, the same people who handed it over demand revolutionary changes. Patience is one of the main trump cards of all Ukrainian football.

- Did Dnepr-1, almost native to you, surprise you?

- Not. Quite qualified players are gathered there, to which they added several good legionnaires. It's nice that young performers look worthy against their background.

- Will the gathering you announced at the end of the year still take place?

- Yes. From November 15 to November 22, we will work in Georgia. You will later learn all the details on the official resources of the UAF. I will say that the organization of this meeting is already our great victory. The championship will last in Ukraine, and all the best legionnaires will not be able to come, but we insist on gathering not only well-known performers, but also those guys who will be the face of youth in the next cycle.

Unfortunately, not all clubs agreed to meet us halfway, but we have always thanked, thanked and will thank them for preparing players for the national teams.

Yuri Denisenko