Sergei Rebrov: "I think now not everyone still realises what we have done in such a short period of time"

Head coach of the national team of Ukraine Serhiy Rebrov in the air of "Suspilny" and MEGOGO summed up the results of the match of the final play-off round of the qualifying cycle of Euro 2024 with the national team of Iceland (2:1), which took place last Tuesday, 26 March, in Wroclaw.

- I think we controlled the game. Unfortunately, we conceded first, but we created chances and understood what we wanted to win.

Of course, it was very difficult to be on the coaching bench today, I saw how difficult it was for the guys. I am grateful to all of them for this gift for our country. In such a difficult time it is very important.

The match was really very difficult, and this victory is very important. I think that now not everyone understands what we have done in such a short period of time.

- Why does the Ukrainian national team under your leadership so often get a willful victory, conceding first?

- In the playoffs, all teams are of a very high level. At the same time, the psychological load on the players was very high. In the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina we did not show our potential at all, but today the guys were more focused on the result.

Unfortunately, we often concede first. This is bad. But the good thing is that we react quickly.

Both games in the playoffs were very difficult. The opponents were different, and we played differently in those games. I'm grateful to the guys that today they didn't pull until the last minute. But today our opponent was really very difficult.

- Were you prepared for the match to turn out this way?

- We take apart any opponent. That's what any professional coach does. So we prepared for the game knowing what team we were going to play against.

- Comment on the episode that led to the missed goal.

- I am not interested in it now, we will analyse the whole game later. Unfortunately, we conceded, but the important thing is how we reacted to it: we tried to go forward, created chances. I think we won the game.

- What was the set-up for the second half?

- At halftime we adjusted something, but it is important that the guys themselves were not satisfied with the game, which they showed in the first half. At halftime the conversation between them was in high tones. Maybe it helped us: everyone understood the price of victory in today's match. Therefore, what we did in the second half is the merit of everyone who was in the locker room today.

- Did Tsygankov's goal influence the course of the match?

- I am sure that this goal helped the team. We created chances, we understood how to open the opponent's defence, but still it was very difficult to do it, because almost the whole Icelandic team was standing behind. In this situation our first goal helped.

- How do you like the atmosphere at the stadium? Did you feel that you were playing at home?

- Yes. I am grateful to the fans that after the conceded goal they supported us, believed in the team. This victory is theirs as well.

- Have you already seen our group at Euro 2024?

- Yes.

- And how do you like it?

- It's fine. Let us digest what happened today, and then we will think about the group.

- Are you going to rest now?

- No. I'll watch matches with our national team. Today, probably, everyone will congratulate us, but tomorrow we need to start preparing and think about Euro. We have a lot of work to do to watch players, to watch matches involving our opponents.

Text transcript - Dynamo.kiev.ua, when using the material hyperlink is mandatory!