Vladyslav Vanat: "If you don't take Shakhtar, the hardest thing in this championship was playing against Veres"

Dynamo Kyiv forward Vladyslav Vanat summed up the results of the 2023/24 season.

"Shakhtar started to fall off the pitch after the 70th minute"

- Vlad, Dynamo is the vice-champion of Ukraine, which made a significant improvement in the spring part of the season. In what aspects do you need to improve in order to improve your achievements next season?

- This question is better addressed to the coaches. On our part, we need to work and improve our game. Nowadays, Dynamo has a lot of youngsters progressing, and we are forming a stronger team than we had last year.

- What conclusions did Dynamo draw after the Classic?

- We heard a lot of feedback that it was football of the European level - attacking, intense. Two equal teams played. "Shakhtar were more fortunate in this match. That's why they won.

- You had several dangerous chances. Where was Shakhtar's weak link?

- After scoring a goal, Shakhtar started to play more on the counter. They went backwards. We started to have chances when we covered them high.

- Why did you fail to convert your chances?

- Perhaps there were some nerves. The pressure before the game was evident to the guys. It didn't work out what we had practised in training.

- In your opinion, was Shakhtar ready for Dynamo's strong opposition?

- I don't know if they were ready, but after the 70th minute they started to collapse on the pitch from fatigue. I don't know why they started cramping so early, even though they play at the level of the Champions League group.

- Do you agree that Dynamo should have fought for the championship in the autumn when Shakhtar had problems?

- I believe that we lost the championship not in the game against Shakhtar, but much earlier. With the same Polissya, when we lost in Zhytomyr (2-3). Even if we don't take into account the draws with Veres (1-1) and LNZ (1-1) in the second round. Two losses that are difficult to explain.

- If you recall the match in Rivne: "Dynamo scored a quick goal, but somewhere along the way they started playing for the lead, although they had a lot of chances to close the game...

- Perhaps somewhere they thought they had won on one leg, but it turned out differently.

- Was there an underestimation?

- Most likely, yes.

- And what happened to LNZ, putting Neshcheret's arrival in brackets?

- We had a problem. I had a good moment, Brazhko had a good moment. We didn't score much. We thought that if we didn't score now, we'd get a goal the next time, but after the conceded goal it was hard to break down LNZ's defence.

- How do Dynamo's youngsters cope when matches don't go according to your scenario?

- When you go out on the pitch, you don't think about it, and after the game you think - how come?

- You don't engage in self-flagellation?

- After the game, I analysed the game - that's all. If you think about it for a long time, you can really eat yourself.

- How do you switch after unsuccessful games?

- Family, work... Train even harder to win the next match.

"Lucescu could run 8 kilometres before games, while Shovkovskyi's workload was reduced, but everything became more intense"

- What has changed after the fourth place in the 2022/23 season?

- We have adapted to our realities. I don't want to talk about logistics, which has already been said and retold a lot.

- It seems to me that the club has drawn certain conclusions when you were constantly travelling to Lodz or Krakow for the Europa League group, and last year Bucharest was chosen in the qualifiers.

- Wherever they say to play, we will play. In 2022, it was really hard to play the league and the Europa League. We didn't even return to Kyiv. I didn't care where I played then. For guys with families and children, it was hard in terms of psychology. I still wanted to go home all the time, to hear my native language, eat our food, train at my home base, and be in the news all the time.

- How would you describe the current UPL?

- This year's championship is 100% stronger than the last one. There are a lot of good teams. The fight for the championship went almost to the last. Now the fight for survival is ongoing. The championship has become much more interesting. There are no obvious outsiders.

- Was the opposition to the giants represented by Polissia and Kryvbas strong?

- They lost a lot of points due to lack of experience. "Kryvbas is in its second season in the UPL, while Polissia is in its first. It's good when projects appear that want to challenge Dynamo and Shakhtar. Now Karpaty will catch up. I read about Bukovyna, who want to join the UPL next season.

- Which of Dynamo's rivals was a surprise?

- Apart from Shakhtar, it was the hardest to play against Veres. They close down very strongly. These teams are the hardest to play against. They close down and play to save one point.

- Do you agree with the statement that the UPL has become a showcase for coaching ideas?

- Oleksandr Shovkovskyi's Dynamo, Rukh, Kryvbas, and Chornomorets all have their own style. If you look at Oleksandriya, they try to play the kind of football Rotan sets up. The main thing is that it is not control for the sake of control. If you don't create chances, possession of the ball will do nothing.

- How do you avoid failure in European competitions when every point in the coefficient table is important for Ukraine?

- You have the wrong question from the very beginning. You need to think about what needs to be done to move on, and you immediately talk about failure.

- If you want to believe in the best, prepare for the worst.

- Well, Shakhtar played well in the Champions League. They also took 3rd place with the Brazilians and qualified for the Europa League. What do we need to do? First of all, we need to get together for a training camp. To see who will be in what condition after the gruelling off-season. Then the coaching staff will select the level of workload for each player

- How has Dynamo changed with the appointment of Oleksandr Shovkovskyi as head coach?

- A lot has changed for the better. For example, before, under Lucescu's leadership, we could run 8 kilometres before games, but now training has become more rational. The workload has decreased, but it has become more intense. As a result, we can play for 90 minutes and increase the speed during the game.

"I don't understand - am I supposed to put my head down, be an emotionless amoeba on the pitch when we play for the championship against Shakhtar?"

- They say that theories have become shorter. Do you feel more comfortable perceiving information in a shortened form than when everything is chewed up to the smallest detail?

- Of course, I like shorter analyses. There is no heavy load on the head. I read somewhere on the Internet that a person can perceive information for only 30-35 minutes, after which the head starts to go blank. When you are told the same thing for two hours every day, you start to feel sick and then drive it away. Figuratively speaking, everything doesn't fit in your head, and then the coach says: "I've been telling you about this for two hours."

- In your opinion, why did Dynamo start to sink in the autumn? Did the coach and the players get tired of each other? Did Mister lose touch with the youngsters?

- Mister stayed with us until the very end, and I am very grateful to him for that. He is a good man and a good coach.

- Over the past year, you have progressed not only in terms of performance but also mentally. How do you manage your emotions?

- Even in the game against Shakhtar, the commentators started to notice that Vanat was getting angry again. I don't understand - should I put my head down, be an emotionless amoeba on the pitch when playing for the championship against Shakhtar? It is clear that I have emotions, but I know how to control them.

- But there were times when it did not play into your hands. You can recall when Rebrov had to replace you in the national team's June matches, the suspension at the youth Euro 2023.

- One learns from experience, and I already know how to do things so as not to harm. Someone said something - you answered him. The referee came up and we continued.

- A successful game this season should not pass by the coaching staff of the national team of Ukraine (indeed, on the day of the interview, Vanat's name was included in Serhii Rebrov's extended list). How do you keep fit before the Euros?

- It's important because everyone wants to play at the Euros. No one should have any problems with that.

- How did the national team manage to rebuild under Rebrov in a short period of time?

- There were many theories. During training, we worked out various interactions. Serhii Stanislavovych and his assistants explain a lot to each player. They make video clips and it helps to quickly absorb information.

- When preparing for an opponent, do you rely on the information given by the coaches or do you practice your own analysis?

- Mostly what the coaches give me. Sometimes analysts send me videos. This gives me more information.

- Who is your most uncomfortable opponent among defenders?

- Svatok from Dnipro-1. A very good defender in the selection. It was hard to play against him. In both matches with Dnipro-1 it was difficult.

- Can the Ukrainian national team go far at Euro 2024?

- The potential of our team is good, but it's not him who plays football. It's important that everyone thinks the same way and goes out on the pitch with the same goal.

- How important is it to avoid injuries during this period of the season?

- As you can see, Mykolenko, Sudakov and Mudryk were injured. These are important players. I hope they will help us at the European Championships.

- Do you feel the strength and desire to go to the Olympics if Dynamo let you go?

- If it does not contradict the interests of the club, I am ready to go to the Olympics.

- Doesn't Pedri's precedent scare you? The guy is still suffering from various kinds of injuries.

- Our football is not yet at the same level of intensity as in Spain. I think he will have enough health.

"I'm ready to go to the Olympics if it doesn't conflict with Dynamo's interests"

- Do you think Ukraine will be able to bring the strongest team to the Olympics?

- It's not up to me to decide. I am sure that Ukraine has many strong players who will be able to perform well at the Olympics?

- You've probably seen the news that Argentina, who will be playing us, may bring world champions to the Olympics - including Messi himself. Would you like to test yourself against superstars?

- It doesn't really matter who I play against, to be honest. I've already played against Enzo in the Champions League. Running around Messi to be photographed with him and see myself on Getty Images...

- Dynamo have recently extended your contract. Was everything decided quickly?

- I had a year left on my contract. I could have waited another six months and signed a preliminary agreement. But it was important for me that Dynamo earned good money. To thank the club that brought me up and gave me a path to big football.

- You can hear from the fans what I could do in my own interests and think about the next step.

- I have never hidden my ambitions to try my hand in Europe. As for what people write, let them write. They don't know all the details between me and the club.

- Is there a clause in your contract?

- No comment.

- Okay, it's accepted. In the future, do you see yourself playing for a top club or following Vita Tsygankov's example and trying out for a more modest team?

- It all depends on the offers.

- Given your performances for the club, is there any interest in you?

- I read about it in the news, just like you (the media reported that Napoli, Betis and Lille were interested in Vanat - ed.)

- Does the improvement in performance against the backdrop of Dynamo's overall progress give you confidence in your own abilities?

- I like the progress compared to the previous season. Then I made 13+3. Now it's 13+10. I want to be even more useful to Dynamo.

- Buyalskyi is Dynamo's regular penalty taker. Will it not be difficult for you to come up to the mark?

- I have been kicking penalties all my life. Why should I be afraid of it? Wherever I have played, I have kicked penalties (Vanat has converted penalties in matches against Obolon and Kryvbas this season - ed.)

"It was hard for six months at Chornomorets, and now you catch yourself thinking about what was fun"

- At the start of your adult career, you had difficulties with realisation. In particular, at Chornomorets, you had three goals in 17 matches - despite the fact that you had chances regularly. How do you manage not to break down psychologically, especially when the stakes are too high at Dynamo?

- Even now I don't score all my chances, what can I say about Chornomorets?

- I remember that business trip to Chornomorets more for the conflicts with the local fans, who did not accept the appearance of a large group of Dynamo players in Odesa. How was it working in such extreme conditions?

- I'm used to scoring all my life, starting with children's tournaments. I started playing in the UPL at the age of 19. It was a completely different level. The pressure was serious. We were categorically rejected. Over time, we started to communicate with Chornomorets fans. They turned out to be good people and are now defending the country from the aggressor.

- Did you know about the relationship between Dynamo and Chornomorets fans back then?

- I found out when I spent a week in Odesa. I was just going to play football, and then the bus arrivals started. It was hard at the time, but over time you remember and catch yourself thinking that it was cool.

- How was your transition to adult football?

- It was difficult. Then, as you remember, the U-21 championship was cancelled. Gradually, I had to get used to playing on equal terms with grown men. It took me 10 matches to fully get used to it.

"Sometimes, after football lessons, due to the pressure drop, my nose would start to bleed"

- How did football come into your life?

- I was walking with my father from the car park. It was about two kilometres from home. I said to him: "I want to play football". Dad recruited Oleksii Ivanovych Mulyar, who had coached him as a child. That's how it all started.

- Your first coaches, Oleksiy Mulyar and Viktor Zalisnyi, spoke in a big interview with UV about the significant influence your father had on you. Is his role in your career really high?

- It is 90% his merit.

- Back then, everyone noted that you could run away quickly and hit well from the left, but your father wanted you to be more versatile. What did you have to work on?

- I trained a lot at home. In winter, I trained in the gym. First, in the morning, I trained with one group, and then with another. After that, I stayed with Zalisnyi and my father: I did feints, played games. For an hour, I worked on kicks with both feet, head, and technique. Sometimes, due to the pressure drop, my nose would start to bleed. I could just sit on the bench with my eyes closed after all these training sessions. In the warmer months, my father and I would go to the stadium and train there. We trained a lot individually.

- At some point, didn't you want to give up? Not everyone can withstand such loads.

- Over time, it became a habit. It's the same with the gym. Yesterday I did my legs, plyometrics. In this regard, I like to work out everything.

- You scored quite well in children's tournaments. Your first coaches told me that at one time you were hunted by Metalist and Karpaty scouts.

- I've heard about Metalist, but not about Karpaty.

- You're not afraid to take the initiative, to go for a one-on-one. Did you have a role model footballer to look up to?

- Ronaldo and Ronaldo. All those cool videos with music... When I was a kid, I even had Cristiano's shirt when he played for MU.

- Fate has linked you to Dynamo since you were 9 years old. Is it true that you wanted to try yourself in Kyiv after seeing the selection adverts on TV?

- It was true. I saw the advert and then went to Kyiv with my father.

- At Dynamo, you got to coach Serhii Velychko. In interviews, you often talked about his strong influence on your further development.

- Serhii Pavlovych coached us until we were 12 years old. I remember him for his unreal energy, he explained a lot. I liked listening to him, he was like a professor. Under his leadership, we won many tournaments. I can only say good things about Velichko.

"First they write on Instagram: "You're shit," and when you reply, they make excuses: "A cat wrote it".

- At Dynamo, it's one game from love to hate. How do you react to the hate and attacks against yourself and the team now?

- Vova Brazhko and I recently talked about this topic. We win 4-0 - nine comments out of ten: "Weak team". We win 4-2 and they write to you: "How can you concede two goals against such a team?" We win 1-0 - why didn't you score three? As Nadia Dorofeeva sings: "Let them write".

Sometimes you open Direct on Instagram and see a message: "You are shit". Out of curiosity, you ask them to explain why, and they immediately start apologising when they reply: "A cat wrote it," "I'm sorry, you're the best."

- How much time do you spend on social media?

- One hour a day.

- Social media is a powerful tool for promoting a personal brand. Is this area not relevant to you now?

- I've been told a lot about it: "Start doing Instagram, get an SMM to help you". I'm not interested in that right now. I'd rather play football. I'm fine without a million followers.

- You started playing football in your native Kamianets-Podilskyi. From a young age, you played with boys a few years older than you. What was that experience like for you?

- I liked it. At home, my parents have certificates for participating in the tournament for players born in 1997, and I - in 2002:) We have a small town. Few children played football. I played for the 1998 team - I just ran after the ball, played around, sometimes went out for 2-3 minutes. Later we formed a group born in 1999, 2000, 2001. We went to tournaments together.

- Are you an introvert or an extrovert by psychotype?

- I'm more of an introvert. When I come to Kamianets-Podilskyi, I like to just sit somewhere in the centre on a bench, watching people.

- Do people often recognise you in your hometown?

- Yes, but here people are shy to approach me or try to give me personal space. If someone asks to take a picture, it's no problem. I'll just keep sitting on my bench.

- How do you spend your time away from football?

- I like to relax at home, go out with friends, go somewhere.

- The last book you read?

- Adrenaline, about Ibrahimovic.

- You once mentioned that your most expensive item was a PlayStation. Do you still have time for video games?

- I gave the PS to my friend. Now I prefer Counter Strike more.

Oleksandr Karpenko