Myroslav Mazur, a graduate of Dynamo Kyiv and a newcomer to Lithuanian side Zalgiris, spoke about his new club, about Swedish side Estersund, where he spent two years, and answered a number of questions about Dynamo.
- Myroslav, why did you choose Zalgiris?
- I told the agent that I wanted to grow and move to a new level. I had a few options, but we came to a concrete decision with Zalgiris. This team will play in European competitions, and I'm interested. I am currently undergoing a medical examination.
- On 12 January in the morning, I went to your Transfermarkt page and it said that you were a free agent without a team. Are you already under contract?
- I left Östersund, signed a preliminary contract with Zalgiris, and arrived in Lithuania on 11 January in the evening. After a medical examination, I signed the second part of the contract.
- Zalgiris finished second in the league. What tournament is the team in?
- To the Conference League.
- Were you a captain in the Swedish club?
- I was the third captain. In Östersund, there was a main captain and two, let's say, deputy captains.
- What did it entail?
- Not that it was anything special. Captains communicate with the team first, and then convey a common opinion to the coach, if necessary. We inform the coach about players' injuries. Before the game, we set the mood by saying something to the whole team. We start the team.
- There are a lot of legionnaires in Östersund. Was English the working language within the team?
- Yes, it was. When I arrived in March 2022, it was a bit difficult at first. But my best friend in the team was the English goalkeeper, a native of Liverpool, Andrew Mills. He helped me a lot with practice. When I was leaving, he told me: "Your English then and now are two different things."
- Can you already give a post-match commentary to the press in a foreign language?
- Yes. In Sweden, if you played well, for example, in the first half, they give you headphones and a microphone during the break or after the game, and you give an interview. Now I can talk easily. And in Lithuania, I've already had to communicate in English.
- What is the working language at Zalgiris?
- The coach, Vladimir Cheburin, is from Kazakhstan, he understands Russian. But I was warned that all the theory, for example, would be in English.
- You are a lefty. Is left-footed centre-back a deficit on the market now?
- Perhaps. Agents and coaches are better at this. My job is to go on the pitch and play. Although, I agree that it is more difficult for me to play on the right. I don't have such a good view of the pitch, and it would be difficult to hit the diagonals with 10 out of 10 accuracy with my non-working foot, as with my left.
- In Europe, and not only in central defenders, they are increasingly asked to take part in the start of attacks, is that true?
- In Östersund, they didn't need a centre-back at all. But I came to Turkey for a viewing and they took me for my first pass. So I immediately started playing in the base. Although, when I arrived, I was the sixth centre-back in the team. After the first game, I was named in the squad. And, as you can see, I played 60 games in two seasons.
As a defender, I really like to play passing. I don't like it when defenders just shoot forward. The pass should only be accentuated. It will be beautiful and will count for you.
- Myroslav, Wikipedia says that you are 189 cm tall. And on Transfermarkt - 194 cm. Where is the truth?
- On Transfermarkt, where I am 194 cm.
- Maybe Wikipedia started following you when you were smaller?
- Probably, it's from the days of Dynamo (Smiles).
- Do you follow Dynamo now?
- Yes, of course, I watch every game.
- Has the team's performance changed since Oleksandr Shovkovskyi was appointed head coach?
- I like the fact that we have started to make progress in defence, there are fewer mistakes. The players have more confidence. What can I say, Shovkovskyi came in and the team won all the matches.
- The centre of defence made a lot of mistakes at the beginning of the season. Would you like to help the team?
- Yes, I was watching. Of course, I would like to return to Dynamo, if there was such an opportunity, I would definitely take it. You need to understand the level of the team. This is my mini-dream, and one of them is to play where I started. I joined Dynamo when I was five years old. I played until I was 18. Then the cards were dealt and I had to leave. But, you know, it lives in your heart. "Dynamo is in my heart. I would always like to come back, and then see how it goes.
- I read that you want to play only in Europe. What if you get an invitation from a Ukrainian club?
- At the moment, there is only one club in Ukraine for me - Dynamo Kyiv. If I get a call from this club in the middle of the night, I'll pack up and leave the same day.
- You played with many players in the Dynamo double. Who do you remember more than others?
- Shaparenko is a very good footballer, he looked great before the injury. Now he is back, and I think he will show his best. He is definitely a top-level player.
- Is Shaparenko ready to take a new step and move to a new championship?
- It's hard to say. After the injury, he needs to find himself. He is already doing it from game to game. If he regains his former form by the summer, I think he will have many offers in the summer.
- Did you expect Viktor Tsygankov to play so well in Spain?
- He has always stood out. Even in the academy, although he was born in 1997, he played for the 1996 team. Even then, everyone understood that he would be a good player. After Yarmolenko left, he took over his role and became one of the leaders. And when Vitya went to Girona, they said that twenty Tsygankovs are worth one Mudryk. But Tsygankov came and played right away, look at his level. I don't think he is much inferior to Mudryk.
- Has Oleksandr Tymchyk always stood out for his speed?
- Yes, he has. It was always said about him that he runs and never touches the ground (Smiles).
- I saw that in Sweden you wore a yellow and blue armband. What is the general attitude in Sweden towards the war in Ukraine?
- You know, you asked this question, and it gives me goosebumps. I am very pleased to remember this. Because when I moved to Östersund in March 2022, there was a lot of support here. Every game they hung the Ukrainian flag, they always shouted to me - Glory to Ukraine! It always encouraged me a lot.
When fans met me in the city, everyone asked me how your parents were, how your family was, how Ukraine and your city were in general. They saw that there were arrivals, worried about it. The team was always concerned about the situation, they became like my family over these two years. It was hard for me because I hadn't been home for two years. The team showed me what real support is.
- Have you ever had any offers from Russian clubs?
- There were some conversations before, but it didn't come to specifics. And I never considered this possibility at all.
- Are your parents and family in Kyiv now?
- Yes, in Kyiv.
- Sometimes people say that it is even harder for those who are not in Ukraine to follow the news than those who live in the country. How is it for you?
- You know, I don't think it's fair to say that. It's hard for everyone now, for all the people of Ukraine. I have friends who are in the hottest spots, and I hear from them what is happening. When I ask them how they are doing, they answer me. But when they ask me, I don't even want to answer. Because I understand that they don't need it at all right now, they have other things on their minds. But it's really hard psychologically when you don't see your family for a long time.
- In April 2022, you said that President Zelensky was a man with very strong testicles. Almost two years later, have you changed your opinion of him?
- No, I wouldn't say it has. I still believe in him. It's hard for everyone, and it's hard for him. I still believe in him.
- President Zelensky recently said that men who are outside the territory of Ukraine could pay taxes in Ukraine. What do you think of this idea?
- It's hard to say. But I think it's a bit too much. I'm sure that 99% of athletes constantly donate to the Armed Forces. And they do it from the bottom of their hearts because we want to. And if we are not at home, we should at least glorify our country abroad and try to help the Armed Forces as often as possible.
Anton Terekhov