Maksym Dyachuk: "The main goals are to reach the Conference League group and return the championship medals to Kyiv"

Dynamo defender Maksym Dyachuk shared his impressions of the first days of training and his expectations for the upcoming season.

- Six months ago, you returned from a loan spell at Oleksandriya. How have you changed since then?

- I can say that I have become more confident and experienced. The matches I played, despite my mistakes, gave me experience and an incentive to keep working.

- At the winter training camp in Turkey, you worked hard to gain the trust of your head coach. Has your approach to training and work at the training camp changed now?

- Nothing has changed, as I used to give my best, and now I try to give not even 100 per cent, but 110 per cent.

- What are the current conditions of Dynamo?

- Now is the time when we focus on physical condition. It's hard work, painstaking, but it's necessary. We will get fit through training camps, workouts and games.

- In your first friendly match, you won a 4-1 victory over Dinamo Bucharest. How much does such a confident victory at the start of the training camp give you confidence?

- In general, the first match is very important, and, of course, victories give confidence and the opportunity to work in a good mood in the future.

- Buletsa, Bilovar and Brazhko have returned to Dynamo from loan, and Yarmolenko has also arrived. What can you say about each of them?

- The guys have come, they are trying, they are progressing. I wish them all the best of luck, we support them. I don't even know what to add about Andriy Yarmolenko (smiles) - he is a legend not only for Dynamo, but for all of Ukrainian football.

- Is it nice that now, working side by side with him, you can learn from him?

- Yes, of course, I watch how he trains and follow his example. Besides, he's a good person, so it's a pleasure to train and play alongside him.

- What are your impressions of the first days of working with Andrii Yarmolenko? What were your first feelings?

- Wow (laughs). When I was a kid, I used to watch Dynamo's matches with Yarmolenko and cheer for them. And now it so happened that we train together in the same team.

- There is a lot of talk on the internet about which number Yarmolenko will take. They write that Shaparenko is ready to give his number ten, and Kabaev is ready to give his number seven. Will you hold on to your number 25?

- If he wants it, let him have it. I'll be happy to give it back (smiles).

- You have signed a new contract with Dynamo. What does the trust of the coaching staff mean to you?

- Of course, I am grateful to them for this, for the opportunity to train under their guidance, to work together with such legendary players. Thank you for trusting me with a place in the squad, and I promise the coaches, partners, and fans that I will give my best.

- What are the main goals you have to achieve - both for the team and for yourself?

- For the team - to reach the Conference League group and bring back the championship medals and the national cup to Kyiv. As for myself, every footballer wants to play, and I will set myself only the highest goals.