ČFR midfielder Yevhen Konoplyanka has revealed whether his co-operation with the Romanian club will really be terminated in winter.
Yevhen Konoplyanka- What exactly caused this situation?
- The coach's behaviour, which I don't understand at the moment. Before coming to the team, I called him to make sure he needed me. Because the club said they wanted me. I spoke to him on the phone - he said he was waiting for me (Andrea Mandorlini took charge of ČFR in the summer - ed.).
I learnt what tactics we play, I knew that he likes to play 5-3-2. And that means that I can only play as a striker in this scheme, but I realise that at the age of 34 it will not be easy to become a striker. But he added that he plans to change to 4-3-3.
That made all the difference at the time, but when I arrived at the club, in a nutshell - he never played me for today. Why is that? I also decided to ask him after a month in the team - why he did not put me on when I was in good shape in training. But even after that he did not let me play from the first minute. He explained only that he did not change the scheme yet and it was difficult to find a place.
I asked him: "So why am I here? I came not for money, but to play, to win trophies". After that he couldn't answer that. He only said that some decisions are hard for him here too. I don`t know what it could mean, but I`m definitely not satisfied with this situation. I told my agent to tell the club that I don't see my future here with this coach.
What the president said in the interview - we need to clarify whether he said it. I am waiting for a meeting or at least a conversation with him, but I can clarify the situation with my injuries, because no one can know better.
I will add that there was no such thing that before every game I left the field. When I was in good shape in training and the coach complimented me, even after that he didn't play me. So what the president said is not true.
If I knew that I would play from the first minutes, but there is some bruise, I would be ready to take painkillers and pills. Just to get into the starting lineup. But, unfortunately, the coach never played me in the lineup, although he once said that he would put me in the starting lineup. When it came to the game, he did not keep his word. He didn`t even let me play as a substitute.
It went on like that for many games. It's about the usual respect. But this coach had never heard of that in his life. Only then for a while I had a couple of injuries, because of one of which I missed a month - it was a "calf" tear. Unfortunately, in our business we are not immune to injuries, but before that I was training. And I was ready. But you can imagine when they say that the club needs you, I myself am in good shape in training, and the coach leaves me on the bench without explanation.
There was a moment when I go out against Adan Demirspor for 15 minutes - it was pretty good. After that game, the match against Steaua - and I'm just out of the squad. For the next game too. How can any player prove himself when he was not allowed to play a single match from the first minutes?
A lot of questions remain. But what I see is that the president bet on me, but did not ask the coach if I fit the scheme, if he needs me at all. For the president's bet to play, you need to give the player playing time. Then we can draw some conclusions about his form.
- Did the club help you recover from injuries?
- As for recovery, everything went according to plan, procedures as it should.
- What are your future plans in this situation?
- Further plans can be made only when this situation is resolved.
