Famous Ukrainian coach Oleg Fedorchuk told us what he thinks about the potential of young goalkeeper Pavlo Isenko of Vorskla Poltava, who was included in the symbolic team of the best players born in 2003 according to CIES.
Oleg Fedorchuk- Isenko was included in the symbolic team of the best players born in 2003, along with Bellingham, according to CIES. Are you surprised? Is he really that good and deserves a place on this team?
- I'm not surprised at all. The Ukrainian goalkeeping school is quite competitive. Shovkovskyi and Pyatov were also highly rated in Europe at one time, but back then there was a heyday of Ukrainian football, good financial conditions, and it was inappropriate for them to leave Dynamo and Shakhtar. Nowadays, Trubin and Lunin are in good standing in Europe.
The second point is that Poltava region produces good goalkeepers. We all remember Pyatov and Riznyk, and now Isenko has emerged. I can say with certainty that Isenko was one of the most prominent players for Vorskla this season.
- What are his strengths and weaknesses?
- He is psychologically stable, he has good goalkeeping qualities, namely height, speed and reaction. Isenko also has an excellent sense of timing.
His weaknesses include excessive emotionality and lack of experience, but this will come with time. One or two seasons, and all this will pass.
- Does Isenko manage to replace Riznyk at Vorskla?
- If we compare Riznyk at the beginning of his career, then yes, and if we compare him with Riznyk before he joined Shakhtar, then, of course, no. But Riznyk did not immediately become the goalkeeper he is today.
Skrypnyk left Vorskla, and a change of head coach can affect the goalkeeping position. It often happens that a new coach comes with his own goalkeeper. But still, I think this will not happen, because Isenko is Vorskla's main asset, and the coach will have to take into account the interests of the club. Apart from Isenko and Chelyadin, I don't see who else they can sell well. These are Vorskla's most spectacular players.
- Can Isenko become a player for the Ukrainian national team in the future?
- At the age of 20, goalkeepers very rarely play consistently, and Isenko, with the exception of a couple of games, played without fail. In terms of his potential, he is undoubtedly a candidate for the national team.
- If an offer comes in for Isenko, should he leave Vorskla, or should he still play in the UPL to gain experience?
- Previously, I would have said that Dynamo and Shakhtar would have suited him, but due to the fact that we are at war, I am inclined to believe that Isenko will go abroad. It will be beneficial for both Vorskla and him.
The successful play of Dovbyk, Tsygankov, Zinchenko, Mudryk woke up Europe, and a lot of people are now looking at Ukrainian players. We are now even outselling the traditional leaders in transfers - the Balkans. Trust in our players is returning, plus they are inexpensive.
Another point depends on where you go and at what age. You can go like Lunin to Real Madrid and lose two seasons, or you can go a little later, like Trubin to Benfica, and play right away. Isenko needs to go to a club where he will be the main man, not like the Swede who joined Celtic and came on, figuratively speaking, for 15 minutes a season.
I think that in the future Isenko can grow into a European football grande dame if he does not lower his standards. His goalkeeping texture is of a very high quality, this is the material you can work with.
Andrii Piskun
