Dynamo Kyiv forward Matvii Ponomarenko spoke about his physical condition ahead of UEFA EURO 2024, competition with Vladyslav Vanat for a starting spot, transfer rumours and nicknames from Andrii Yarmolenko, Vitalii Buyalskyi and Oleksandr Karavaiev.
- This summer, the youth Euro 2024 will take place. In what form are you planning to approach it and how will you prove yourself?
- Of course, I need to get my best shape, prove myself at every training session, and when the coach gives me a chance to play in a match, I need to prove myself in games. As long as I have the opportunity to play for the U-19 team by age, I am gaining playing experience there. The main thing is to work hard, and then everything will be fine.
- Your position rival is currently the top scorer in the UPL. How do you win the competition?
- You have to work, everything is possible. Of course, Vanat is a good forward, he scores a lot. Everything is ahead, we need to play.
- Is there any excitement when you go on the field for the main team?
- To be honest, there are worries. When you go out on the field. But when I make the first touch of the ball, it disappears.
- You've been in the football news a lot lately, even memes have appeared in connection with Sevilla's interest. Do people recognise you on the street? How do you react to this?
- People don't recognise me yet. I react normally. I don't even read such news, the guys told me these rumours, they joke about Sevilla. I let it pass through my ears. I have my own goals that I'm working towards. I believe that everything will work out.
- So have you already got a nickname in the team - Sevilla?
- Yeah, some of the guys are a little bit of a joke.
- Who are they?
- Yarmolenko, Buyalsky, Karavaev.