Girona and Ukraine striker Artem Dovbyk spoke about his long-awaited transfer, his debut in La Liga, his synergy with Tsygankov and his hopes for Ukraine's success with Rebrov.
- First of all, let's start with the current moment. How are you doing in Girona - as a city and as a team? Have you already managed to settle in and feel like an ordinary Spanish citizen?
- By the way, this is a timely question, because just the day before I solved my housing issue. At first, like other newcomers, I was offered to stay in a nice country hotel called Camiral, which is very convenient and close to our club base. During this time, I had the opportunity to look for accommodation. I chose one of the houses and moved in with my family, and I'm glad my wife and daughter joined me this week.
- Who was the first person to meet you in Girona?
- Are you referring to Vitya? Yes, of course, it was Vitya. He came to my hotel on the first day and we had dinner together. He is very well-liked in the city, he has become one of the locals here this year. For me, Vitya is one of the main factors in favour of moving to Girona.
- Girona has a population of 100,000, which is about three times less than your native Cherkasy. And in general, it gives the impression of a kind of puppet, tourist, relaxed. Is it like that?
- To be honest, I can't say I've had time to get to know the city. We have a tight schedule, and I, as a newcomer, am still getting used to the team. I devote all my time to purely game issues. Perhaps later, when I have a break or a weekend, I will be able to walk around Girona and make my own impression. I can say that it is very beautiful here: the Pyrenees are close by, Barcelona is an hour away, and there is a large international airport.
Now I feel like I usually do during the football season. Training, theory sessions - and now the match. You live in the calendar of your team, everything is scheduled by the hour. That's what I can say about Girona's base. There are many pitches here - and all of them are of very high quality. There are modern devices for training and monitoring the player's biorhythm. Much attention is paid to scientific research. After the first training sessions, after working with the coaching staff, which is assisted by cool analytics and recovery specialists, I said to myself: "Yes, this is La Liga".
- We all followed your first steps in the new club - from the presentation to your debut match with a goal. What did the Girona hospitality look like from the inside?
- I'm incredibly grateful to the club, my teammates, and all the townspeople for the warm welcome I received. In Girona, I was greeted perfectly and asked a lot about Ukraine. Everyone sympathised that we are at war. Thanks to Vita Tsygankov, everyone in Girona knows the truth about the enemy's invasion of Ukraine. People are on our side, they all want Ukraine to be free from the invaders and for peace to come.
- You were introduced as the club's new star. What was the most memorable thing about your first meeting with the press?
- The presentation was quite colourful, there were a lot of journalists. It's nice that they all know about Ukraine, there were a lot of questions and conversations not only about football. I was convinced that Girona is a very important club for its city, Catalonia and Spain. There were representatives of probably all the leading media. Everything that was happening was almost immediately broadcast throughout the country.
But I was even more touched when I came out and heard my native Ukrainian language near the stadium. A Ukrainian family living in Spain came to visit us. It was very touching: the children and their parents came with Ukrainian flags to support me. I will be glad to see our countrymen at the stadiums. I always look for the blue and yellow flag everywhere in the stands.
- Your transfer saga lasted for a long time, and various clubs were named as contenders for Artem Dovbyk - Torino, Lazio, Bologna, Marseille, all the Turkish giants. "Girona started to be mentioned in the media at the beginning of the summer. And when exactly did you get substantial interest from this particular club?
- I really had a hard time with all these rumours, conversations, assumptions. At some point, I even wanted to completely separate myself from all the news, just play football. All negotiations were conducted jointly by SC Dnipro-1 and my agent Oleksiy Lundovsky. I didn't listen to any rumours and tried to keep my mind focused solely on the game. One thing I can say is that City Group showed interest in me even earlier.
- Really, City Group?
- About two years ago, after Euro 2020, they wanted to sign me in Troyes (one of the dozen clubs that are part of the City Group - ed.) That is, I already knew for sure that I was on the City Group's radar from 2021. And when Vitya Tsygankov represented Ukraine so well in Girona, I already had accurate information that this club was constantly following my performances.
- Okay, but why Girona, and not some club from Serie A, the French Ligue 1 or someone else who was mentioned in the press? Or is it just the specifics of the offer?
- Why yes. The interest of these clubs was also substantial, but most of them wanted to bring the negotiations to August in order to sell their strikers as expensive as possible (which they eventually sold) and then switch to me. I can say that this year in particular there were offers from other clubs, quite famous in their championships, who are now playing in European competitions, but I chose Girona and I am glad of this choice.
My transfer was not easy at all, because everything had to satisfy not only me, but also SC Dnipro-1 and Midtjylland. "Girona, represented by Pere Guardiola, was proactive and was able to quickly find a common language with both the Ukrainian and Danish clubs. And most importantly, there was no Tsygankov in other interested clubs.
- It' s a bit unusual that a football agent is both the chairman of the club's supervisory board and the brother of the top coach who leads Manchester City, the club kings of Europe . Is Pere Guardiola cool?
- Pere successfully solves all the issues related to the development of Girona. I like the way this club is developing and that it has good prospects. I'm grateful to Pere for his efforts in making this transition happen. However, I can't tell you much about him because I haven't spoken to Pere personally, all the negotiations with him were conducted by my agent.
- When you signed a new contract with Dnipro-1, many believed that this was the end of your European ambitions. Why did the opposite happen?
- I'm extremely grateful to SC Dnipro-1, they believed in me and rebooted me in the most difficult time. Do you remember when we talked once: I said back then that I wanted the club to make money on me. I couldn't just leave, it wouldn't be nice to leave, you know? Now, I think everything turned out fairly: once Dnipro-1 took me into the squad when I was in a foreign country after an injury, and now they have been rewarded for this trust, joint work, and the good years we spent together.
- Let me clarify: that is, SC Dnipro-1 guaranteed that it did not just sign you to the "golden cage", but that it would definitely sell you?
- The club management told me specifically: 'SC Dnipro-1 will not keep me if there is a decent, economically justified offer. They got what they wanted. Everything was done fairly and honestly. I am grateful to the club.
- It is believed that you were several times one step away from moving to the top championships, but then Dnipro-1 did not let you go. Do you have any grudges against the club?
- No, no resentment and only gratitude.
- Are there people to whom you will not shake hands and those who, on the contrary, will remember them with gratitude?
- I will definitely remember everyone with gratitude. I had a good start in Denmark, I already had titles with Midtjylland, but due to an injury I was in the hospital for a long time, and I was recovering my form on loan at Sonderjysk. I'll tell you straight up, it was a difficult period in my life.
That's when SC Dnipro-1 came to my aid. They fought for me. "Midtjylland did not want to let me go. I know for sure that the club's management made great efforts to get me back home. It was a turning point in my career.
- At Dnipro-1, you worked with Dmytro Mykhailenko, Ihor Jovicevic and Oleksandr Kucher. Which of them is the best for you?
- A provocative question (smiles). Let me say something good about all of them. I've known Mykhailenko since FC Dnipro, when I took my first steps under him. Jovićević believed in me, he gave me a lot to help me regain my scoring skills. I felt that the team was playing for me, that I had trust. Kucher is the coach who helped me reach a new level. Not only me, but Dnipro-1 as well.
I am grateful to each of the coaches. In general, I'm pleased, maybe I was so lucky, or maybe I had something to do with it, but I'm doing well with my coaches. I work hard to justify their trust. It was, is and will be like that. A footballer should always blame himself, not someone else.
- Tell us a little bit about last season. How did you feel when Dnipro-1 was leading and you were scoring in bunches?
- Oleksandr Mykolayovych (Kucher - ed.) set us up so well that after every victory we wanted another victory. It was the club's strongest season, but I'm sure we could have achieved more and deserved more.
- You were one goal short of repeating Henrikh Mkhitaryan's historic record. Was it realistic?
- Yes, of course it was. We were following the championship schedule. I tried to be useful to the team. Of course, I wanted to break the record. It still hurts me now. But you know that such great scorers as Andriy Shevchenko and Serhiy Rebrov played in the UPL. There were a lot of quality legionnaires. I think that the fact that we managed to get ahead of all but one of them is a certain achievement.
- Still, what is the reason why Dnipro-1 did not become the champion?
- In such cases, there is no single reason. Somewhere we lacked a "bench". In some matches, we lacked injured or disqualified players. I pay tribute to Shakhtar, they were the most stable. Igor Jovicevic did a good job, their squad is such that the losses we had would have been easier for them to bear.
Now, of course, I understand that in some matches we didn't do enough, didn't get what we deserved. But who would have believed before the season that we would fight for the Champions League? I have not seen such predictions. The head coach believed in us, he charged us with the feeling that we could be better tomorrow than we are today.
- It was a very unusual championship - with shelling, sirens, match disruptions. Was it still football, or was it a bit less so?
- Of course, it was football. A good championship, unpredictable. The first part of the Ukrainian championship featured players like Vitya Tsygankov and Misha Mudryk. It was interesting in every round.
- How did you and your Dnipro-1 teammates deal with the realities of wartime? Did it ever happen that the legionnaires had to be persuaded to come out on the pitch and return to the team?
- What happened in the team is the team's business. We went on the pitch as a team and tried to give our best. I can answer you this way. It is true that it was harder for foreigners. We have been gradually immersed in these feelings for eight years. I think those who saw what was happening understood perfectly well that we were at war, that guys were dying, and that peaceful cities were under fire. We were all more worried about our relatives, especially in those moments when certain cities were still under occupation.
- When did you find out that Girona was interested and that it was concrete?
- Probably in the first days of July. As I said, I asked them to keep all the news and rumours away from me. I really wanted to give everything to the team in the Champions League qualifiers.
- Did your personal negotiations with the club last long?
- As such, there were none - I just clarified everything with Vita Tsygankov, heard his good feedback about the football club and had no doubts. Then Oleksiy Lundovskiy and Girona reached an understanding.
- There are various rumours - some say you have doubled your salary compared to Dnipro-1, others say you will receive even less, taking into account taxes - and you agreed to this to get out?
- This is La Liga, I will get more. However, the question was not about money. I can definitely say that. For me, the main thing was to find out what prospects this club offers, how seriously they want to see me there, whether I will be useful and needed here.
- In this regard, there was information that the key point was the sale or not the sale of your predecessor Castellanos.
- This may be true. It probably was. "Girona immediately made it clear to me that they knew what my style and characteristics were and wanted me in the team. On my part, I agreed almost immediately. "Almost" because I asked if the head coach knew me, if my style of play suited the team, if they were really interested in me. When Girona explained that they had been watching me closely, I had no questions.
- Your debut was fantastic . The team was inferior in San Sebastian from the opening minutes, you came on in the 64th minute and scored against Real Sociedad in the 72nd minute . How did you feel?
- Incredible! What else can I add? I was happy. Moreover, Real Sociedad has always been interested in me. But they were afraid to spend money right away, and only offered a lease with a buyout option, which Dnipro-1 and I never considered. We were always focused on a full transfer. In the end, I scored on them (smiles).
- Rumour has it that Girona are also keeping a close eye on Oleksandr Pikhalenko. What do you think about this?
- The more Ukrainians, the better (smiles ). Moreover, I can vouch for Sasha - he is a top footballer in terms of his game thinking, I scored a lot of goals from his passes, we have a great understanding.
- Who else would you recommend to Girona among Ukrainians?
- You don't have enough pen and paper to write it down (smiles) . But lately, so many of our players have moved to the Premier League, Serie A, and Portugal. We have quite high-quality players, and I think our youth team at the European Championships proved that the change is worthwhile.
- Michel is your new head coach. But so far, he has only made substitutions...
- I am a newcomer and I have to prove my level to the coach and the team. Michel is a great specialist. He has brought such a combination football to Girona that I want to be part of this team. Michel's style is also my style of football.
- In the final of Euro 2020, which was a triumph for you, the national teams of England and Italy played, and here they are in our group. What are your feelings after the draw?
- Well, yes. It's a jackpot, one might say, that Italy and England were drawn at once (smiles ). But if you want to be at a high level, you have to accept all your opponents. So we have no choice but to play for victory in every group match. And the result will decide.
- You have played 18 matches for the Ukrainian national team, but you received your first call-up back in 2017. Comparing the squads and staffs of Shevchenko, Petrakov and Rebrov, what can you say about these periods?
- The national team is the national team. We all come from different clubs and we always come in a great mood, we are interested and happy to be here. Therefore, I will say that it is an honour to come to your national team with every coach.
- Okay, specifically Serhii Rebrov - how did you establish a rapport with him and were you able to do it during the short summer training camp?
- I'm grateful to Serhii Stanislavovych for his trust, he let me play in each of the three matches. It doesn't matter if I didn't always start or play fully, because you have to prove your level in every match and appreciate every minute on the pitch.
- What are the most unforgettable experiences of the national teams since June?
- The anniversary match of the German national team - it was a friendly match that will always be remembered. What I liked most was that we won: North Macedonia and Malta were beaten thanks to teamwork and strong-willedness. The game? The main thing is the result. If we score points in every match, we are happy with that.
- Dnipro-1 was unable to fulfil its dream of the Champions League and said goodbye to Oleksandr Kucher and Yevhen Krasnikov.
- Of course, we are all very sorry. Personally, I did everything in my power to ensure that Dnipro-1 got past Panathinaikos in the Champions League qualifiers (Artem scored a beautiful goal in the return leg, another goal was disallowed, and for a while the Ukrainian team was close to getting back into the game - ed.) As for Kucher and Krasnikov, many thanks to both of them for the best season in Dnipro-1's history.
- In general, Ukrainian clubs are not playing well in Europe.
- There are objective reasons for this. I experienced it myself last season. Believe me, it is difficult to play in other cities and countries all the time. Then, these moves - we lived "on wheels". I'm not making excuses for this - there were other obvious reasons, too many leading players have been lost by our clubs over the years. We lacked them both in the UPL and in European Cup matches. You just need to understand that there is a war in Ukraine, and if it is hard for our homeland, it cannot be easy for football.
- What result will satisfy Girona as a club and you as a player in this team?
- My task is to adapt as quickly as possible and constantly benefit the team. I won't even talk about my personal desires. As for Girona, the club deserves its European Cup dream. The club wants to win. They have selected very ambitious players and coaches. I won't say much, let the results speak for us.
Artur Valerko