Dmytro Nemchaninov and Minaj decided to terminate the agreement by mutual consent. The experienced footballer explained why he decided to stop working with the Transcarpathian team:
Dmitry Nemchaninov. Photo by Dmytro Rudenko- Before I went on holiday in early December, the club management informed me that they were going to review the terms of my contract. I was offered a 45% pay cut, but I didn't agree to it and said goodbye to Minaj. Although the head coach Zeljko Lubenovic told me during our conversation that he wanted me to stay.
- Along with you, eight other experienced players left Minaj. How did they explain their decision?
- They also explained it by revising the financial conditions downwards.
- How do you explain such a drastic change in the economic component by the club management?
- By and large, it's a sin to complain. During the time I defended the colours of Minaj, the terms of my contract were fulfilled. Moreover, this season the Minaj management made sure that we were paid bonuses even for draws. As for the revision of the contract terms, I think the decision of the FC president was influenced by our unsatisfactory results, although I believe we are not in the right place, at least six points short of the top spot.
- But after a successful previous season, when Minaj finished eighth, nothing predicted such a failure: only six points and the last 16 in the UPL.
- Believe me, it was no resting on our laurels, we were preparing very responsibly because we knew that it was harder to keep the positions we had gained than to win them. But the facts are stubborn things: we failed to find reliable replacements for the players who dropped out, not to mention reinforcements with well-known masters. It is better to ask the club management why this happened. And here, as if to add insult to injury, the poor realisation of goal-scoring chances, referee mistakes, bad luck... Of course, the winless streak also affected the psychological state.
- Didn't the tournament troubles affect the relationship between head coach Volodymyr Sharan and his players?
- No, the microclimate in the team remained excellent, which is a great merit of Volodymyr Bogdanovych and his assistants.
- Some experts argued that Sharan, having taken over Minaj last season, squeezed the maximum out of his players and had no more unused reserves.
- It is difficult to give a comprehensive answer. In any case, I believe that Sharan is one of the best coaches in Ukraine and he is very much to blame for Minaj's success. Believe me, everything would have been different if Minaj had been more active in the transfer market in the summer. We needed reinforcements in every area.
- What can we expect from Minaj in the second part of the season?
- Perhaps the option of rejuvenating the squad will bring some dividends, although I am convinced that the support of qualified new recruits is essential. I wish Minaj to maintain its place in the elite.
- What are your future plans?
- I am open to negotiations. I do not use the services of agents. Under Sharan, I was always in the starting line-up at Minaj. I feel that I can still play at a high level for several seasons.
