Ukraine national team defender Vitaliy Mykolenko summarized the results of the friendly match with Poland (1:3), which took place last Friday in Warsaw on the air of Youtube-channel "VZBLRNA".
Vitaly Mikolenko- In the match against Poland you played for the first time after recovery. How did you feel?
- I felt pretty good, but there are some other problems, not related to my injury, and there was a little discomfort. So I was not 100 percent ready for this game.
- Will this game practice help you further your recovery?
- Of course. According to the plan of the coaching staff, I had to get some playing time in this match. I spent 45 minutes on the field, that's enough. I could have played more, but the problems prevented me a bit. However, I am happy that I played 45 minutes - it is very important for my physical preparation before the Euro. I am happy to be back on the field.
- In the first half, the composition of the defensive line of the Ukrainian national team was quite experimental. Perhaps this was the reason why the Poles scored three goals for us in half an hour?
- The whole team misses, not just the defenders. Especially, we conceded two goals from standards. Everyone didn`t finish in something, I can`t single out one person who didn`t finish. Everyone didn`t finish, that`s why we conceded three goals.
- Can I say that this match was a cold shower for you?
- Yes. Two goals from standards is a very big problem. But I am sure that we will sort out these mistakes and will not repeat them.
Another goal in our goal was from a feed. This ball was also hard for the goalkeeper. I repeat, we will sort out our mistakes, continue to move on and prepare for the friendly match with Moldova.
- After three conceded goals, you adjusted the game, started organizing attacks, creating chances and scored one goal.
- The game was given to us even before the conceded goals. When Malinovskyi passed to Zubkov, there was a very good moment, but we did not realize it. We had other good moments. But there are such matches, when you do not score, but they score for you. This was just such a match. I think it is a very big lesson for us before the Euro. It is important to draw conclusions after this match and move on.
- The positive of the match with Poland - Dovbik's goal?
- Yes, I am very happy that Artem scored this goal. You can say that he started scoring from the very first match, because with Germany he came on as a substitute. It is important for all our strikers to score goals. In any situation - it doesn`t matter what the scoreboard says. I congratulate Artem with this goal!
- Did the fact that you are now playing under pressure affect your actions? Not much time has passed after the same match with Germany...
- Many days passed after the match with Germany - with Poland we played in three days on the fourth. Besides, those who didn't play against Germany had a good training. I would not say that we were under the load: now the coaching staff is trying to make sure that all of us are in the same physical readiness before the Euro. I think we are moving in the right direction.
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