Head coach of the Ukrainian national team Serhii Rebrov gave a lengthy interview toRadio Libertybefore the Blue and Yellows' October game session.
- How did you find out about Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine? Where were you in those first minutes?
- I was in Dubai. I was working for Al Ain. It was very unexpected for everyone. The day before, it was my wife's birthday. And my close friend, my godfather, Sergei Stakhovsky, was with his family. And I remember his reaction: it was really very impressive news. I tried to return to Ukraine, but I had a contract... We all tried to help our country with everything we could.
- Were your parents and relatives in Ukraine at that time?
- All of them. All in Kyiv. I am from Horlivka. And in early 2014, when this invasion began, I moved all my relatives to Kyiv. And they are there now.
- When you received the offer to coach the national team of Ukraine, did you hesitate to sign the contract?
- No, I didn't. Indeed, at that time it was very important for me to be with Ukrainians, with my people. If there is such an opportunity, it is a great honour for me, for any professional, to coach the National Team of Ukraine. That's why I didn't even think about this offer. And what's important: my previous contract was coming to an end and I could decide where to work.
- When you were already in charge of the national team and came to Ukraine for the first time, what impressed you the most? Where did you go, what did you see, perhaps in the places that had been liberated by the Ukrainian armed forces?
- I came often, up until the moment I signed the contract. I had several meetings with the President of Ukraine. So I was in Kyiv, I was in Ukraine. When I came, there were a lot of rocket attacks. I had to feel it. The whole nation lives under this, so it was not strange to me. I understood where I was going, and I understood that now we have to live with it.
- When you became the coach of the national team of Ukraine, you said that the anxiety, the constant shelling, how difficult was it for you and the players to train during the actual state of war?
- I don't think it's difficult. It's probably difficult for those fighters, those defenders of Ukraine who are now "at zero". It is very difficult. We must do everything for Ukraine, try to help Ukraine. What we are doing is really very important. And although we, unfortunately, cannot play in Ukraine, we feel the support of Ukrainians wherever we are. Whether in Poland or, as we are now, in the Czech Republic... It's a great support. We are very grateful to everyone. But this is our life now. We have to do this.
- What if there was an opportunity, for example, to play in Ukraine, but without spectators, or to play in Europe with Ukrainians, as the Premier League is now?
- Firstly, it is impossible. Because our rivals will not go to Ukraine to play. That's why we understand. It is very important for us to play for our fans. I remember when I was not even the coach of the national team of Ukraine, all the matches of the national team of Ukraine in Ukraine were a big event. There was a lot of interest. And I think it's a different feeling for the players when they go out on the pitch, when the stadium is full, a packed stadium in Ukraine.
- It is known that you help the Tribune of Heroes Foundation. And as far as we know, this fund helps the families of the deceased football fans, those who died in the war. Why is this important to you? Why is it important to support such foundations in general? And do you help anyone else, perhaps some of the Armed Forces units?
- I help a lot. I don't advertise it. I think everyone does it now, not just footballers. Those players who played abroad, I know, I talked to all of them, they help the Armed Forces and volunteers a lot. I think this is a very important thing now. Our people need help. Not only the soldiers, but also people who have suffered from Russian aggression. That is why we are doing everything in our power to help our people, to help the Armed Forces of Ukraine. And from the first day, whenever anyone approaches me, I try to help.
- Did you have time to travel to the frontline areas in person to talk to people?
- Yes, I travelled closer, I talked to the soldiers. I think it's very important to support the fighters and the people who have suffered.
- Recently, UEFA allowed Russian U-17 teams to compete in international competitions. Several countries immediately protested against this. How do you feel about this decision of UEFA and, in general, about the phrase that the Russian media sometimes likes to use, such as "sport is out of politics", in this context?
- I want to remind you of the first days of the war, when Russian athletes were still participating in major competitions. And I remember some competitions where they were caught on camera, sometimes on the podium, and some of them came out with a swastika "Z". So it may be the same now. It doesn't matter what age. There is a war going on. And I think this decision is very incomprehensible for us and for the whole of Europe. But this is UEFA's decision. We will appeal against it. There are already many countries that have already refused and others will refuse. Because this is not the right thing to do. If we show how many children have suffered from racist aggression, and they are talking about children now (they allowed Russian teams under the age of 17 - ed.), this is an impressive figure.
- The Russian side says that sport, like culture, should not be identified with politics. Why is it important to you that sport cannot exist without politics?
- I believe that sport is politics. A lot of people in the world and in Europe know and respect people who have earned respect in sports. That's why these names are heard. And I don't know who is more popular - politicians or athletes who have done something for their country. I have never said that sport is outside politics. It is very important that when there is a war going on, there is no sport outside politics. Everyone must unite and stand up to the aggressor.
- In 2008, you played for the Russian club Rubin. After the full-scale invasion, or perhaps after 2014, did any of your teammates from this club, or perhaps your friends from Russia, write or call you about Russia's invasion of Ukraine?
- No, not in this regard. There were some calls. Yes, we have some communication. But if someone writes to me, I have no desire... Even if I have nothing bad to say about that person, I have no desire to talk at all. That's why I don't answer any calls or texts at all, I ignore them.
- Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, your former teammate in the Ukrainian national team. He now lives in Russia and works for the Russian club Zenit. As far as we know, he has never spoken out about the invasion since it began. How can you comment on his position? And if you had the opportunity to talk to him now, what would you say to him?
- I wouldn't say anything. As I told you, I have no desire to talk to such people. It's a war now. Therefore, everyone needs to decide where they are: are they with Ukraine or are they there, with the racists? You cannot be in the middle, I am neutral, I am out of politics. There is no such thing now. Tymoshchuk chose the other side. And I have no desire to talk about it. How many people have suffered, children, and how many people have left Ukraine because of the racists. Now there is no middle ground, as I said. You have to decide where you are. He decided that he was there.
- Can you somehow understand his actions and similar actions of such people ?
- This is his life. I don't even think about it. I understand that he was a big name in football once. But now this name does not mean anything to me.
- You are from Horlivka yourself. You've already mentioned it. This is (historically) a Russian-speaking region. Usually, before that, you spoke more Russian in public. Now you have switched to Ukrainian. All public press conferences. Now we are speaking Ukrainian. Was it difficult for you to make this transition? And do you speak Ukrainian in the locker room with the guys?
- I think it is quite difficult for everyone to switch. But I used to speak Ukrainian before. But everyone next to me spoke Russian, so somehow... If someone spoke to me in Ukrainian, I switched to Ukrainian. In the locker room? Yes, we communicate. We give some tips in Ukrainian. Sometimes some specific ones... 90% of the language is Ukrainian in the locker room and at all meetings.
- Do you have any friends or relatives in Horlivka who still live under occupation?
- My parents' friends. Yes, they sometimes communicate. But I have no friends there. And after 2013 and even before 2014, apart from my parents, I did not communicate with anyone there.
- In 1999, Ukraine was in the same group with Russia in the qualifiers for Euro 2020. How important were these matches then from the perspective of today?
- They are always fundamental. All the matches between Dynamo and Spartak or Ukraine and Russia were fundamental. But I remember the excitement that was there, and it was the Russians who created this excitement. I remember this game when we played, when Andriy Shevchenko scored a goal at the end, and the Russians created this hype. When we played in Kyiv, in Ukraine, everyone was looking forward to this match, but somehow the Ukrainians had a different attitude. We respected them. But, yes, we tried to win this match because we believed that Ukraine was stronger.
- So there was no special confrontation...?
- There is something historical about any confrontation between Russia and Ukraine. But no one thought that it could go to this level, to the level of war.
- How do you see the development of Ukrainian football after the war is over, from the state it is in now? How can it develop? And if the war continues, perhaps for a few more years, won't it lead to the fact that the Ukrainian Premier League and Ukrainian football in general will only go downhill?
- No, I don't think so. I believe that Ukrainians are a very strong nation. Even now some people say that the league is very weak. If the championship is weak, why do clubs play well enough in Europe? If the championship is weak, then why do clubs play well enough in Europe, why does Shakhtar win the Champions League, why does Zorya win the Conference League? I believe that we are a strong nation. Yes, there is a very large outflow of players from Europe from the Ukrainian championship, but this is a great chance for young Ukrainian players who now have a chance to make a name for themselves. And I think we have a very interesting championship. I always follow it because I am the national team coach and because it is really interesting.
- Do you think that after Ukraine's victory, Ukrainian football will be able to return to the same level, at least to the level it was at?
- I'm sure it will. Even higher. First, the war must end. Then everything else. I am sure we will get everything back. And our championship will be much better.
Serhii Stetsenko