The head coach of the youth national team of Ukraine, Unai Melgosa, shared his expectations from the team's October matches in the Euro 2025 qualifiers.
- Did you manage to invite all the players you planned to invite to the October matches of the Euro 2025 qualifiers? Or is there someone missing for some reason?
- Yes, all the players we wanted to call up are here with us. Some of them did not play the last matches at their clubs because of injuries, but now they are all ready to work.
- What impression did your players make on you in the recent matches of the European Cups and the UPL? Who would you like to mention in particular?
- They are progressing from round to round. Some of them play more, some of them fight for a place in the team. We need to understand that the Ukrainian championship is a tournament with good potential, even despite the reduced number of legionnaires. I hope that the Ukrainian youth will take their chance.
- You must have analysed the opening match with Northern Ireland thoroughly. What are the main conclusions you have drawn?
- I think the team did a good job against both Northern Ireland and Germany. In both matches, we tried to take the initiative and were not afraid of the ball. Sometimes our decisions were not the best, but the team tried to match the style of play. Perhaps we weren't very aggressive in the final area, we need to improve in this area. But the players' attitude to work was quite good.
- What was your impression of the Luxembourg team in the first two games? What are their strengths?
- They have fast players in the attacking line. Yes, against England, they defended for most of the time and tried to hit the opponent on the counterattack, but against Northern Ireland, they started well, controlled the ball, scored a goal and won. It will be a tough match against Luxembourg.
- Would you consider four points (for example, three in Luxembourg and one against England) a positive harvest in the October matches?
- At the moment, I am focused on the process. It is important for me that the team plays better and better in these matches. If we improve, the result will follow. All the players know that the result is a score on the scoreboard, but it is also an opportunity to progress in the youth national team.
The away game against Luxembourg will take place on 12 October in the second most populous city of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Aix-sur-Alzette, at the Emile Mairish Arena and will start at 19:30 local time (20:30 Kyiv time). The Blue and Yellows will play their home match against their English counterparts on 16 October in Košice, Slovakia, at the Košice Football Arena. The match starts at 18:30 local time (19:30 Kyiv time).