Just two weeks after the end of the autumn part of the 2022/2023 season, mentor "Alexandria" learned about the termination of cooperation with her. However, despite these circumstances, he still gave an interview UA-Football, in which he spoke about the ups and downs of the difficult first round, in which his wards performed quite successfully.
Yuri Gura— Can the fifth line in the standings with two games in reserve be regarded as a positive result of the autumn part of the season?
- I think yes. Two fights in reserve allow us to count on a favorable outcome. In the event of victories in them in the fall, Oleksandriya would share the second or fourth steps in the standings.
— What can you say about the fate of the postponed matches against Metalist 1925 and Dnipro-1?
— The first match against Metalist 1925 was interrupted by enemy bombardment. We wanted to play with the Kharkiv team, but they didn't have the opportunity. It was the same with Dnipro-1: a siren sounded, and there was no lighting at the Avangard stadium in Uzhgorod. So both meetings had to be rescheduled. They should take place next spring.
— If we compare the current performance of Oleksandria with the indicators of the autumn stage of the last season, then without taking into account the two postponed games, they surpass them. Therefore, is there any reason to talk about serious encroachments on one of the sets of medals?
- This is true. Before the start of the 2022/2023 season, the team was tasked with winning a place in the top three.
— For almost two autumn months, your team did not know the bitterness of defeat, having issued a series of six unbeaten matches. Does the draw with Shakhtar stand alone in this list?
- Of course. After all, when it comes to a leader, it cannot be otherwise. It really turned out to be a good game against Shakhtar, we looked confident on the football field. Unfortunately, the air raid, due to which our team was forced to spend some time in shelter, knocked us off the game rhythm a little, and after the resumption of the game, the miners managed to score a “quick” goal. And soon it was time for a break in the match. However, be that as it may, the guys can get credit for this game.
— The unbeaten streak was interrupted only in the away game with the grand — "Dynamo". What prevented you from counting on a favorable outcome in Kyiv?
- In that match, we were somewhat knocked down by Buyalsky's "quick" goal. We controlled the ball, and everything seemed to be going well, but the mentioned goal was embarrassing. It is clear that to a certain extent this left its mark on the further development of events.
— Already in the next round after the match with Dynamo, your team experienced a diametrically opposite range of sensations when they scored the winning goal in the seventh (!) minute compensated by the second half. What did you feel at that moment?
— Joy was boundless (smiles)! This feeling can only be compared with winning a cup match.
— Perhaps I won’t be mistaken if I assume that of all the matches played, the most unpleasant aftertaste was left after the defeat by Metalist — 1:3?
- Yes, yes, it was the most painful loss for us. It is difficult to say which particular component out of a whole range of components led to it. After the removal of the Metalist player, we found ourselves in the majority and, it seems, had to bring the game to its logical conclusion. However, it seems that the quantitative advantage factor led to a loss of concentration and somewhat relaxed our players, after which we conceded two goals. We should pay tribute to the opponent, who from the first minutes of the match looked quite powerful, and when he remained in the minority, he significantly rallied. This is common in football.
— What match — both in terms of the result and the quality of the games, would they be singled out from those played in the fall?
- I really liked the home game with Kolos. It turned out to be good, both in terms of performance and confidence in team actions.
— In the autumn part of the current season, nine newcomers debuted one after another for Oleksandria — Vladislav Kalitvintsev, Vikenty Voloshin, Bogdan Kobzar, Bogdan Beloshevsky, Artur Avagimyan, Artem Shulyansky, Denis Kostyshin, Maxim Dyachuk and Daniil Skorko. Did all of them come to the court?
- If they remained in the team, then that's it. Take, for example, Kalitvintsev. He helped us a lot, having spent the autumn segment of the championship quite productively. Vladislav strengthened our team, and when he got injured and couldn't play in the last matches, we really missed him. I would also note Dyachuk. In general, all newcomers can be distinguished.
— The return to service of Kirill Kovalets happened a year after receiving a serious injury, surgery and a long recovery. To what extent did he approach his optimal form?
- Kirill's readiness, for obvious reasons, was not optimal for a long time, but in the last games of the autumn stage of the season, he looked better. I am sure that during the winter training camp, Kovalets will regain his usual form and in the spring he will demonstrate his good level of football.
— Among the top five teams, Oleksandriya has the most penalties — three dozen warnings and one removal. Does this fact bother you as a coach?
“Indeed, there were too many cards. Most of them are unfounded. Although our coaching staff constantly focused the attention of the players on the fact that they should talk less with referees and foul less. However, little depends on us, coaches, in the whirlpool of events, because in football emotions often take over.
— Your team played the first five matches of the championship outside its hometown, playing in Petrovo with Ingulets, twice in Kyiv - with "We pass" and "Metallist", in Minaj with "Vorskla" and in Kovalivka with "Chernomorets". Constant departures from Alexandria and returning back with overcoming more than one hundred kilometers exhausted?
- Very exhausted. After all, when we have a home game on schedule, and we are forced to play in Kyiv, it's hard. Especially when you have to travel around Ukraine from tour to tour! Therefore, when we got the opportunity to play home matches in Alexandria, we were very happy. After that, everything fell into place and entered the usual schedule.
— Did the war leave an imprint on the financial condition of the Alexandrian club?
- I think no. It is clear that in such a difficult time for the country there are certain difficulties, but the club fulfills all the conditions. There are no problems in this matter.
— For many years, Alexandria has held winter training camps in Turkey. How will it be this winter?
- I cannot answer this question for you, because I am no longer the head coach of Oleksandria. Of course, it would be expedient and efficient to hold a training camp in Turkey during the current winter intermission. In this country, all conditions have long been created for high-quality preparation for the spring part of the championship, which for more than two decades has been willingly used not only by elite teams, but also by lower leagues.
— What can you say about the termination of cooperation with "Alexandria", to which they gave more than one year of their career?
- When this decision was announced to me at the club, it came as a complete surprise. Throughout the entire period of my tenure as the head coach of Oleksandria, I performed my duties honestly and conscientiously. I hope that my follower will be able to adequately continue the work begun by me and my assistants in the spring part of the championship. And, of course, he will be able to reach the goal set by the club this season.
— What are your thoughts on your future football future?
- What can we talk about now, when the termination of cooperation was announced only this week ... I have not even had time to think about my future yet. Well, I'll wait for invitations (smiles). To be honest, I would gladly take up coaching if some worthy and interesting offer comes in. Why not? I am full of strength and energy.
Vyacheslav Kulchitsky
