Dynamo U-19 coach Ihor Kostiuk talked about the plans and expectations for the team gathering in Turkey, the upcoming test matches and changes in the coaching staff:
— We have enough time to conduct a full training session, lay the foundation and gradually bring the players into good shape. In Kyiv, we conducted a test that showed that we still need to work on endurance, as the players did not come in the best condition after the vacation. So let's gradually do the work they had to do on vacation and move on to working with the balls.
— When will the control matches start? Are the opponents already known?
— Yes, we provided the schedule to the organizers two weeks ago. We already have selected opponents for almost all dates, the only thing is that the schedule will change a little at the end of the meeting. Almost all of our opponents are in the U19 age category, but there will also be adult teams. We are currently discussing this moment with the organizers.
— The gathering started with training on the sand — how useful is such work?
— Yesterday we spent the whole day on the road, so we decided not to go to the field to train in the morning, but to work on the spot. Breathed and, thanks to the sand, worked other muscle groups - this is useful.
— Did Andriy Oberemko join your coaching staff?
— Yes, he works for us as a physical training coach, because this vacancy has become vacant. Andriy came to us at the end of last season, watched our matches, and I offered him this position. He is a football person, he understands the specifics well and I am sure he will be useful to us.
— Is it planned to transfer one of your footballers to the first team during the training season?
- Rather, on the contrary. We spoke with the coaching staff of the first team - they have a large number of players, maybe they will give us someone during the matches so that the players have game practice.
— In the near future, will you be working in a two-time training regime?
— We plan to alternate two-time and one-time classes, because we need to lay the foundation - both strength and endurance - so we will work both in the gym and on the sand, and we will also do special work with balls on the field, at the end of training we will additionally do running work . When there is little time for training, football players do it during vacation, and now we have enough of it to fully go through all stages, considering that one and a half months of vacation did not go to our advantage - the team is now trained in terms of endurance. So, maybe we will additionally charge in the morning - let's see (smiles).
— How would you assess the psychological state of the players after the vacation?
— I talked to them, the guys are still in the process of adaptation, because this is a team that played for the academy last year in its entirety. In this case, there is no continuity, unlike the situation when 5-6 new players are added to the squad. Because when there are senior partners around, adaptation goes faster. In the conversation, I told them that in six months, everyone should understand the requirements we set, be professionals and realize what they need to do to achieve the result.