In aninterview with UA-Football, Austrian LASK defender Maksym Taloverov shared his impressions of his debut call-up to the national team, spoke about the atmosphere in the team, and recalled the scandalous episode with Mykhailo Mudryk.
Maxim Taloverov- In which position does the national team coaching staff count on you more? In the club you sometimes play as a central midfielder...
- The first training camp showed that the coaching staff is counting on me in the centre of defence. Perhaps in the future I will have a chance to prove myself in the centre of the pitch, but it depends on the decision of the coaching staff. During training and in the match against Lechia, I played in defence.
- What were your impressions of the control match with Lechia?
- I am happy to have got a chance to make my debut for the national team. Every footballer dreams of defending the colours of the national team. I believe that the whole team played confidently enough. I was overwhelmed with positive emotions, even though it was a friendly. My debut for the national team gives me motivation to progress and move forward. I hope that soon I will have a chance to prove myself in official matches.
- Could you share your impressions of the atmosphere in the national team?
- It was nice to work in a friendly atmosphere. On the first or second day, I felt like I belonged in the team. Thanks to the guys who helped me. The national team has a friendly team. Everyone jokes, they can tease in a friendly way.
- Are the requirements of Serhii Rebrov and Ruslan Rotan similar or are there any significant differences?
- The structure of the game is different for these two coaches, but there are common requirements. A footballer must give 300%. We understand that we are playing for the main team of the country, so there are no problems with the attitude and dedication. Rebrov and Rotan see football in their own way. The coaching staff explains everything well, so it doesn't take much time to adapt. It's important for a footballer to have everything explained to him in a clear and understandable way.
- When you found out that you were not included in the application for the match with Italy, were you upset or were you ready for it?
- Every footballer dreams of playing in the starting line-up. I wanted to make my debut for the national team in an official match. I felt angry, first of all, at myself. If the coach made such a decision, it means I did not do enough. I need to work even harder and improve.
All my thoughts were about our common victory, which would allow us to reach Euro 2024. I am happy that Serhii Rebrov called me to this training camp. This training camp was important for every player. I am honoured to be part of this team. I understand what we need to strive for in the future.
- What emotions did you feel after the final whistle of the match against Italy? In your opinion, was there a violation of the rules in the episode with Mudryk?
- Everyone was upset, there was silence in the dressing room. The coach thanked us for the game and noted that we were in no way inferior to a formidable opponent. Everyone understood that we had a chance to win and there was some devastation. I believe that the national team has made significant progress, because previously a draw against Italy would have been a blessing in disguise for us. The mentality of the national team has changed. We want to win every match. Such games are good for our team. Only the strongest can progress.
Regarding the episode with Mudryk, I believe that the referees should have reviewed this episode on VAR. I think they should have awarded a penalty. After the game, Mikhail said that he was 100% sure that there was a violation of the rules.
- Perhaps they really didn't want to see our team at the Euros, or was it just an elementary mistake by the referees?
- I don't even want to think about it. You always want to believe in the best and hope that it was just a mistake by the referee. We still have a chance to qualify for the Euros and we will do everything to achieve our goal. Even if they don't want to see us there, we will prove them wrong. We will try to show quality football in every game.
- How would you assess our national team's prospects of qualifying for the Euros through the Nations League play-offs? Do you expect to play for the national team in the March matches?
- All national teams have more or less equal chances. I don't want to single out any favourites, because everyone will strive to reach the Euros and will do everything for this. Taras Stepanenko said that it is better not to talk, but to work and achieve results. I agree with these words of an experienced footballer. We believe in ourselves and will do everything to achieve our goal.
Every player expects to play in the starting line-up of the national team. There is still a lot of time before the March matches, so it is worth proving yourself for the club. I don't want to get ahead of myself. It is important to progress and then the national team coaches will pay attention to me. I want to get stronger every day.
Vladyslav Pryhoda
