Ukrainian midfielder of Polish Raków Vladyslav Kochergin summed up the results of the first part of the season for his team and himself (33 matches in all competitions, 6 goals, 3 assists).
Vladislav Kochergin- Wład, the Polish championship went on winter break. "Raków was torn between the ExtraClass, European competitions and the Polish Cup. How would you rate the first part of the season?
- This is the first European Cup season for Raków, we continue to fight for the championship, we reached the quarter-finals of the Polish Cup (in February Raków will visit Piast Gliwice - ed.). I think we played well during this period.
- How will the team prepare for the resumption of the season?
- We will have a training camp in Turkey. Our rivals are Ludogorets, Maribor and Dnipro-1.
- Rakuw is celebrating the holidays in fourth place in the ExtraCleague with a game in hand. Is the team able to catch up with the 9-point gap with the leading Shląsk?
- Last season we didn't play in the European Cups, so we covered the whole distance quite smoothly. Physically and psychologically, it is quite difficult to play every 3-4 days. Teams not involved in European competitions can take their chances, as Śląsk and Jagiellonia did. There are many matches ahead to rectify this situation. After the holidays, we will be able to focus on the Polish league and the Polish Cup.
- Which matches against which opponents do you remember the most?
- I can name several matches. The most memorable was the victory over Legia (2-1). I managed to score, a very important victory for us.
Then the match against Sturm (1-0) in the Europa League, because it was a historic victory for Rakuva. Of course, the matches against Sporting (1:2, 1:1) and Atalanta (0:4, 0:2). The teams are of very good quality.
- Raków's journey in the European competitions has truly been historic. The Polish champion in the Champions League qualifiers went the whole distance in 4 rounds and presented the European autumn. Was it difficult to overcome the 14-match journey?
- It was very difficult. We had a period when many key players were injured. We played every 3-4 games. A lot of people joined the team. "Rakuv is different in that the game is based on interactions. Every player must know what to do in the press, when playing in defence. It took time for the newcomers to understand everything.
- What does a footballer feel when he listens to the Champions League anthem for the first time on the pitch?
- Hearing the Champions League anthem on the football pitch is the dream of every footballer, and I am no exception. I've always dreamed of playing in this tournament, so it was nice to hear this melody. When we came out for the game against Copenhagen, it was raining, and this made the moment even more memorable.
- Rakuv really claimed to reach the group stage of the Champions League, but lost to Copenhagen (1-1, 0-1) in the play-offs. What was missing?
- Just a little bit. With Copenhagen, we were unlucky to get an own goal in the first match, then we had a goal cancelled due to a centimetre offside. In the return match, we got an illogical ball from 40 metres. We must not concede such goals.
We must not forget that we played the European Cups not in Czestochowa, but in Sosnowiec. The support was really good, but something was missing. Somewhere this could have affected the result in the European Cups.
- In the summer, several leading players of the championship team left Rakuv, and many newcomers took their place. Have the newcomers now got used to the football that the team plays?
- Good players came to the team and needed time to adapt. Some more and some less in order to understand how we play as a team, defend, attack and the rest of the little things that matter in building a Rakuva game.
It's not easy to come in and become a fighting unit when you play important games every week. At the beginning it was hard, but now we have reached a high level and are benefiting the team.
- Marek Papšun, the creator of the champion Raków, left the team after seven years at the helm. Now the club is coached by his assistant David Schwarga. Has the team's game changed much?
- The basic principles that were in place under Papšun have been preserved. Schwarga has added his own details that can help us to be even better. When we play against a team behind the ball line, I go higher in the third ten and saturate a certain area of the field in the press.
- Papshun's name could often be heard in our media in the context of a possible appointment to Shakhtar or Dynamo. Which of our giants could his football suit?
- I think that Papshun's style would be a better fit for Dynamo, because it is all about intensity and sprints. As we saw under Lucescu, Dynamo also played intense and vertical football. Papshun professes something similar.
- Do many teams in the Ekstraklasa play simple football?
- The level of the entire Polish championship is very decent. Most teams of this level are competing for the championship.
- Does the experience of playing in the UPL come in handy against such rivals?
- Yes, it does. The experience of playing for Zorya in the UPL and European competitions helps me. I really like the way Poles cheer, their attitude to football. The stadiums are always full, you feel like a footballer.
- With Raków, you won all the possible titles in Poland and played in Europe. What's next for you?
- I am now fully focused on Raków. I want to be useful for my team.
- Your contract with Raków is valid until 2025. Are you interested in other teams?
- I can't say. Maybe there is, but I don't know anything.
- Can your successful performances for Rakuv help you get into the top league?
- I would like to try myself in the top 5 European championships. To try myself at that level. A lot of things have to go right to get there. It depends on a lot of things.
- Do you have a favourite among the top 5 championships?
- Since childhood, I have been a fan of Real Madrid. If there is an opportunity to watch football, La Liga will have an advantage. I follow all our Ukrainian legionnaires, in particular Girona, who show a great level.
- Poland is often used as an example for Ukraine in terms of football. What could the UPL take as an example?
- Because of the war, and before that COVID-19, we have no fans at the stadiums in Ukraine. After our victory, we can pay more attention to things around football. The ExtraClass clubs are promoting themselves on television and social media. There is a TV pool. All this is at a very high level.
- Your successful play for Rakuv remains unnoticed by the coaching staff of the Ukrainian national team. Have you found an answer for yourself?
- Of course, I would like to get an invitation to the national team of Ukraine, but I don't dwell on it. I come out for every match for Rakuv to play to the best of my ability, and the rest depends on Serhii Stanislavovych. I will be happy if it happens. If not, I'll be rooting and hope to see our team at Euro 2024.
There is a very serious competition in the national team of Ukraine now, so I try to progress and show the football to get noticed.
- You have one match in the national team. In the autumn of 2021, you played in a sparring match against the Czech Republic (1:1). What do you remember from that business trip?
- When you play football from a young age, you always dream of getting into the national team. It is an honour to represent your country. It was very pleasant for me and gave me a motivational impetus to keep up my level. I was very happy to be invited and given the opportunity to make my debut.
- With Serhii Rebrov at the helm of the Ukrainian national team, it was believed that your invitation was a matter of time. Preparing for the interview, I read that when Rebrov was in charge of Dynamo, he considered your candidacy. Can you shed some light on this?
- I have heard about this. A lot of time has passed. It doesn't matter anymore.
- Ahead of the national team is the play-off for Euro 2024 through the League of Nations. How do you assess the chances of our team?
- I believe that our national team can do anything. We need to have a good attitude, to show our game, which we saw under the leadership of Serhii Rebrov. Everything is in our hands.
- Do you like the football played by the Ukrainian national team?
- Yes, I do. We started playing from a position of strength. The important thing is that we have started to get the desired result.
Oleksandr Karpenko
