Famous Ukrainian goalkeeper Bohdan Shust told us what he thinks about the potential of the young goalkeeper of Vorskla Poltava, Pavlo Isenko, who was included in the symbolic team of the best players born in 2003 according to CIES.
- 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 in this team?
- It all depends on the parameters by which he was evaluated. But Isenko certainly has potential, and Dolgansky works well with him. At the age of 20, Isenko acts tactically correctly, although, like every young footballer, he makes mistakes.
- What are his strengths and weaknesses?
- Isenko plays not only with his feet but also with his head, he anticipates game situations. You can see Dolgansky's handwriting and philosophy. Isenko has good tactical training in terms of choosing a position, one step and he is already in the place where the ball is going. That is why he is good at interceptions.
Sometimes there are no shots during the game, but not all fans notice that the goalkeeper came out of the gate ten times during the match and intercepted everything. I'll give you an example that happened in the last game of the first round between Vorskla and Rukh. At one point, Isenko played so competently on the way out that he changed the direction of the ball with one touch of his hand, and if he hadn't touched it, the Rukh striker would have scored an empty-net goal. Isenko has had a lot of such moments this season.
- What does he need to improve?
- Like most goalkeepers, footwork and reaction in the goalmouth. Pavlo also needs to get a little stronger physically, because he is tall.
- Is Isenko able to replace Riznyk at Vorskla?
- He has the potential to do so, but to fully replace Riznyk and reach his level, Pavlo needs to work harder.
- Can Isenko become a player for the Ukrainian national team in the future?
- Of course, Isenko can reach the level of the national team if he continues to work on himself. The most important thing is that he works in situations on the pitch that allow him to grow. Isenko does not stand on the goal, as they used to say, but actively plays. He is always in the active phase, and these are the requirements for goalkeepers today - they must be able to play well not only in the box but also with their feet.
- If Isenko receives an offer, should he leave Vorskla, or should he still play in the UPL to gain experience?
- If Isenko receives a good offer from abroad that suits him and Vorskla, then Pavlo should definitely leave. We understand perfectly well that the situation in Ukraine is difficult now, so the player will develop faster in the championship, where the stands are crowded and there is more pressure. Abroad, Isenko will gain not only professional but also life experience.
Andrii Piskun