Ukrainian midfielder Danilo Krevsun, who has been playing in the structure of Borussia Dortmund since January this year and started the new season in the club's U-19 team, spoke about his adaptation, explained team goals and shared his plans.
- Congratulations on your goal in the match against Bayer. If you believe the available information, this goal was your first for Borussia's youth team. Is that correct?
- No, this is my second goal for Borussia. The first one I scored back in the spring in a cup match. But in a junior Bundesliga match, I actually scored for the first time. So, thank you for the congratulations!
- Did the team know that you scored in the Bundesliga for the first time? How did they react to it?
- The guys congratulated me, but without much emotion. For us in the team this is the norm: the first goal is not something special. Here the attitude to such a thing is not the same as in Ukraine.
- But on the video you can see that the whole team celebrated your goal with some enthusiasm. Why so?
- Yes, we were really very happy. "Bayer" is a principal opponent for us, we were strongly tuned to the game. After my goal Borussia's advantage increased to 2:0, so our joy was so strong. In general, the match was very difficult and hard for us.
- You joined the Borussia youth team in the winter of this year. In spring there was adaptation. Now the new season has started. How much have you already become a part of the team?
- I think that my adaptation in the team has already been fully completed. I feel like a fish in the water. Before the start of the season we had a training camp. During them we all in the team got very close, became like relatives. That is, the atmosphere in the team is very cool, it is nice to be in it.
- Does the language barrier affect you?
- There is no language barrier. I can already speak German. Besides, we communicate with the guys in English. There are seven international players in the team, so it is easier for everyone to communicate in English. Our coach is a Dane who has been living in Germany for about 10 years. He is fluent in both German and English. So there are no problems.
- What is the U-19 team of Borussia Dortmund, which is perceived in Ukraine as a real forge of talent?
- In Borussia, in general, everything is at a high professional level. Our U-19 team is treated accordingly. A simple example is the work of the fitness coach. He works with us 24/7. He has everything under control - he can call someone before the start of the training session for additional work, he can delay after the session to find out something else. The attention to physical fitness, as well as recovery, is top notch. We had a game with Bayer on Sunday and today (14 August - avt.) we had recovery sessions with different groups. Then there was a massage and everyone could visit the sauna and cold pool at will. That is, everything in the U-19 team is like in the main team.
Another point that confirms the high level of Borussia. It is the norm for us to ask the analytical coach for a video of his game in the last match for his own analysis. This video can then be analysed with the team coaches. The approach is at a high level.
- Does the coaching staff of Borussia Dortmund's main team follow the U-19 team?
- I know that the coaching staff of the Borussia Dortmund main team attends the team's matches - perhaps not the head coach himself, but one of his assistants. In addition, I have seen representatives of the coaching staff several times near the club fields where we held our training sessions.
- What are your goals for the season at Borussia U-19?
- The Borussia U-19 Dortmund team is, in my opinion, the best in the youth Bundesliga. So it's no surprise that we want to finish top of the league at the end of the season. We also want to make the most of the Junior Champions League. We will be playing in two more national cup tournaments. I believe that we should be first there as well. Of course, it will be difficult to do it, but we will do our best.
- What exactly is your personal goal? Do you have a desire to be in Borussia's main team one day?
- Of course, I would like to play for Borussia's first team one day. I know that this path will be difficult, because I am not the only one who wants to play in the main team. We have a lot of talented guys who also dream about it. I'm sure everyone is working with 100 per cent commitment for their dreams. We are moving forward. I am moving forward with the team.
- Is there high competition in the team? How much do you consider yourself a player of its main squad?
- We have about 14-15 players who make up the core of the team. However, none of us is guaranteed a place in the starting lineup. Everything is conditional. We must show ourselves well during training sessions and play at a high level in official matches.
- In Ukraine, until recently you were in the system of Shakhtar Donetsk. Then you moved to Germany, where first there was the team "Proisen Münster", and then - Borussia Dortmund. Do you regret leaving Shakhtar?
- At first it was very disappointing that I was not called up to the U-19 team of Shakhtar Donetsk. I did not know what to do next, how to be. But six months after that I got to Borussia Dortmund. Now I realise that so far in my life there was nothing better than what I have now. If I had returned to Shakhtar, I would not have achieved the results I have today.
- In your opinion, how close are you in Dortmund to the Ukraine national youth team?
- To play for the Ukrainian national team is my dream. But nobody has not contacted me about it yet. I have to work and prove my desire to be called up to the youth national team of Ukraine.