Yuriy Gura: "There is a head coach of the national team, who plans to call Konoplyanka for some reason...".

Renowned coach Yuriy Gura responded to rumors about the call up of "Krakovia" winger Yevhen Konoplyanka to the Ukrainian national team.

- How do you feel about the rumors that Konoplyanka may be included into the application form of the Ukraine national team for the next match of the qualifying for the Euro against England?

- It is such a question (laughs). I think he is a very experienced footballer, but what help will he be now. In our national team there are much stronger players than Zhenya in his current form.

- Do you believe that this option may even become realistic?

- To be honest, I find it hard to imagine that this option will be realistic. I hope that this is a rumor and nothing more.

- Perhaps the national team lacks certain qualities now that Konoplyanka is needed?

- I think I'm not the one who can answer this question, because there is the head coach of the national team, who plans to call Konoplyanka for some reason.

- Will Konoplyanka be able to compete with Mudryk and Zubkov?

- That's what I do not understand. We have young competitors on the left wing. Mudryk and Zubkov will help the national team much more than Konoplyanka. We also have Kryskev who showed himself well in the match against Rennes. We have young people who must and should be developed.

- What do you think about this phenomenon, such as the call-up of older players to the team?

- Is our national team so bad that we need to call up veterans and older players? We have a good selection of players, so we do not need players like Konoplyanka.

- Is it possible that Konoplyanka is not the only veteran who will return to the national team? Does Rakitskiy stand a chance of ending up in the main team of the country?

- Honestly, I do not understand and do not see the point in bringing in players like that. Why should we bring back people who have little game practice. We have players playing abroad and playing in every match. What for?

Artem Zhilinsky