Dynamo Kyiv midfielder Anton Tsarenko, 18, talks about the first team, his success with Dynamo U-19, the team's current coach Ihor Kostiuk and the stadium where he dreams of playing.
Anton Tsarenko. Photo by Yuriy Yuriev"I feel trusted in the Dynamo first team: everyone helps me"
- Anton, you made your debut in Dynamo's first team relatively recently, but it's hard to imagine the team's application without you today. Do you feel trusted by the coaching staff?
- I've been in the first team for a short time and for me, an 18-year-old who has just come in, to be immediately included in the first team squad is very worthwhile. I feel trust, I think it's one of the main factors you need to progress.
- In recent years, many players have made their way from Dynamo's youth teams to the first team: Zabarnyi, Shaparenko, Tsygankov, Mykolenko, Popov, Sirota. Whose story inspires you the most?
- I followed each of them, and I continue to do so. There is no such thing as someone who inspired me more and someone who inspired me less. They all deserve respect and attention. I am inspired by each of these stories and I am sincerely glad that they already have what they deserve through their work.
- Who in the Dynamo first team helps you the most?
- I can't name a specific person, everyone helps me here. It's a very good story for a footballer's development.
- Who was your first coach and which of the guys you started with are playing with you now?
- My first coach, Yuriy Ivanovych Yastrebinsky, made a very big contribution to me and my career. Not only he, but every coach I worked with gave me some advice or guidance that helped me a lot in my career. As for the boys, there are such people in the youth team.
For example, Igor Gorbach, I played with him almost from the very beginning. Artem Benediuk is also with me, he has been with me for a long time. The boys born in 2003, who are now playing in the first team, we often crossed paths with them in the past, despite the fact that they are a year older than I. I talked to them a lot, but at that time I did not realise that I was going toe-to-toe with them towards my goal.
- How did a guy from Konotop end up in the capital? Because there is contradictory information. Some people say that you grew up in Kyiv, while others say that you moved when you were a teenager. What's the truth?
- No, I was born in Konotop and moved to Kyiv when I was three years old, where I started living, growing, developing and was sent to a football school. That's how it all started.
- It's a stupid question, but it's interesting to know: Benjamin Verbych had a girlfriend, Alvina Tsarenko. Does she have any relation to you?
- No, she was not. I remember it too, I was reading the news, went to the page and saw Tsarenko. I was also surprised, but I have nothing to do with her.
"Anthropometry is not that important in football"
- Former curator of Dynamo U-16 Guillermo Samso said three years ago that you had every chance of becoming a Ukrainian Iniesta. What do you think of Iniesta in terms of playing characteristics? How similar are you to him?
- Yes, he compared me to Iniesta and it's very nice when you are compared to such players. Indeed, Iniesta played in the same position as me, in the centre of the pitch. Perhaps this analogy came about because of certain playing traits that Andres had. I always followed him when he played for Barcelona. I was very impressed with him. In general, I followed Barcelona of that era.
- Anthropometrically, you are not a tall guy - 162 centimetres. How difficult is it for you now to stand up to bigger opponents? Or do you, like Messi, see advantages in your build?
- I think anthropometry is not that important in football. Every player has his own strengths and weaknesses. Someone has height and physical data, someone has a thought and work with the ball, a vision of the field. Therefore, in modern football, anthropometry is not as important as thinking on the field.
- What did you learn from the Spanish specialists who worked with Dynamo's youth teams?
- As I said, many coaches gave me something new. The Argentine and Spanish coaches continue to teach me a certain lightness, ease, and the realisation that you have to go out on the pitch with a smile. You should do what you know how to do and what you like on the pitch, and enjoy the game. Perhaps this is the fundamental thing I have learnt from working with foreign specialists.
- It is said that Juande Ramos liked to sit at the table for a long time after lunch, while Vicente and Raul Riancho liked to buy sweets and have a long conversation at the base while listening to the seagulls. What did you notice about them?
- I remember a moment we had. At the end of the season, Guillermo organised a mini-tournament and divided us into four teams. The losing team danced to the song "Despacito". The guys even have a video somewhere. And there was always a positive atmosphere, he always had a positive vibe about him. Guillermo knows how to make a joke or come up with something new purely for the emotional level of the team.
- Mircea Lucescu is very famous for his ability to throw young people into battle. Once it was Shust and Chygrynsky, now it's Zabarnyi and you. What did Lucescu say to you at the first meeting?
- Probably, the very first time we met, it was in Bucharest, when we were playing matches for peace. He addressed not only me, but all the guys in general. He said: "Look, I left you with the first team, so you have to show all your strongest qualities that you demonstrated in the youth team. There's a lot of competition here and you have to have the appropriate desire to fight for a place in the first team and always work on yourself." These are the words that Lucescu used to motivate us to fight for a place in the first team.
"I remember the matches with Deportivo the most"
- You worked with Ihor Kostiuk. What is so cool about this specialist, from whom so many talents moved to the first club team?
- Probably the fact that he had an individual approach to each player. He could explain why you did what you did and why you should have done something else. Many people went through him, through his school. I think these people will understand me, because it was these individual conversations that helped me to better understand the coach's opinion.
- You made your debut for Dynamo in the match against Benfica. Was it really an opponent of a completely different level and why did the team lose its mood and motivation after that defeat?
- Of course, we were fighting for the Champions League at the time and it's always unpleasant to lose. Whether it was Benfica or another opponent. "Dynamo Kyiv always sets itself the highest goals. Yes, in emotional terms, our spirit of victory has faded somewhat. As for Benfica's level, of course, the players there are stronger individually, but as a team we were in no way inferior to them and could well have won. But, unfortunately, everything happened in a completely different scenario.
- I recall your confrontation with Deportivo in the UEFA Youth League. In my opinion, those were your best matches in the Dynamo youth team. What do you think?
- Probably, yes. This is still a world arena, we played against the giants, but despite the names of the opponents, we showed the football that is expected of us, which we know how to play. I think that in that tournament we could have reached the final and claimed the Cup. Those matches with Deportivo are probably the most memorable because of the atmosphere. And not only in Spain - when we played in Kyiv, the fans came and the main thing was to show that we were capable of fighting for that title.
- What did you do when the war broke out? Who did you call?
- My mum woke me up and said that the war had started. I was immediately nervous... But I pulled myself together, we were at home. The team wrote in the messenger group that anyone could come to the base, there was a shelter, the possibility of resettlement, and even food. I decided that it would be safer for me and my family. So we came and stayed there.
- And then?
- I don't remember how much time we spent there, but we had to play against Sporting. And then we went to Bucharest.
"I would like to play at the Camp Nou"
- For many years, there was a rivalry between Dynamo and Shakhtar. Now the degree is not the same. Do you regret it?
- Of course, Shakhtar is a fundamental rival for us. It is always a match for six points. It was important to win. But it all depends on the players. Now, perhaps, the general situation in the country is still affecting. There are no fans, there is no pressure and no excitement. But even in such a situation, we try to motivate ourselves and find some goals, a goal that we are all working towards together.
- At what stadium would you like to play for Dynamo?
- Probably at the Camp Nou. I have already been there as a spectator, and now I would like to play for Dynamo. I think it will work out in the future.
- Who was your most star-studded opponent in the youth teams?
- I immediately recall Benfica centre-back Antonio Silva. In Barcelona, the number 7, Akomac, was difficult to counter. Benfica and Sporting were also good, difficult opponents, when you play against such skilful players, you find certain points of growth.
- A serious company. Finally, about another serious company: at Dynamo, you compete for a place in the squad with Buyalsky, Lonvayk and Shaparenko. What are the strengths of these players?
- I think that competition, both for me and for other players, is only good for me. What are your strengths? Probably a lot of experience behind them. Perhaps another factor is that they are now expected to reach a certain level and have no right to lower the bar for themselves. Another component is that they set a good example for young players like me who have just joined the first team. And it's great because we can learn from such players and adopt their experience.
Daniil Vereitin
