Matviy Ponomarenko, a forward for Dynamo Kyiv and the Ukrainian youth national team, spoke about his debut season in adult football, interest from other clubs, and goals for the 2024/25 season.
- At the beginning of the U-19 Euro 2024, you were not included in the application for the opening match with Northern Ireland (0:0). What was the reason for your absence?
- I missed the game because of too many yellow cards, the last of which I received in the Euro qualifying match with Switzerland (2:0). I thought that it did not apply to the final stage of the tournament, but when we gathered, I was told that I would not be able to play. But in the next match I was able to take the field.
- How much harder is it to watch the game rather than take part in it? Did you feel relieved when you came on against the Italians and scored?
- To be honest, I was very worried about the guys because we needed a win. Of course, I was disappointed that I didn't play and couldn't help the team. But it's okay - this is football, it happens. We analyzed our game in the group stage, what we failed to do and what we succeeded in, so we will try to progress. It is a pity that we will have several losses in the semifinals, in particular, it will be very difficult for me to follow the game from the sidelines because of the number of cards.
- Earlier, the youth national team of Ukraine under the leadership of Yuriy Moroz played at Euro U-17, but failed to get out of the group. Have you talked to the guys from that team about this topic? How did they explain the unsuccessful result?
- Oh, honestly, I didn't talk to them about it. So I don't even know what the reason could be.
- Now I want to talk about your club career. If Wikipedia is correct, you were born in Myronivka, Kyiv region. Since childhood, did you support Dynamo Kyiv? Who are your childhood idols among Dynamo players?
- Yes, yes, of course, Dynamo. My dad always supported them, and so did I. Andrii Yarmolenko is my idol. Speaking of legionnaires, I liked Jermain Lens and Dieumerci Mbokani. I was also impressed by Miguel Veloso's play in the middle of the field.
- Did you have any offers from other clubs besides Dynamo at an early age?
- To be honest, I don't know. My dad told me: "Get ready, we're going to watch Dynamo. I didn't know what was going on, where, but they said: "Let's go". So I packed my things and went.
- Were you immediately enrolled in the academy or did you have any difficulties?
- There were three other teams at the time, I was called up and had a good first training session. After that, the coaches came up to my dad and asked him to show them my birth certificate, because they didn't believe I was born in 2006. My father took it out, showed it to them, and they said: "That's it, we'll take you."
- Let's move on to the present. Last season, you broke the record for scoring in the U-19 championship and made your debut in the Dynamo first team. How would you generally assess your performance in the 2023/24 season?
- I believe that last season was successful for me. I did everything I could, but of course, I want to score even more. Well, it's okay, I will try to break my own record next season if I play in the youth championship. If not, then I will have to score for the first team and I will do everything for that.
- Then I will have to surpass Henrikh Mkhitaryan's record.
- Well, yes. (Smiles).
- In Dynamo's youth team, you play side by side with Oleksii Husiev and Viacheslav Surkis, who are under additional pressure because of their famous parents. Are they ordinary guys in everyday life, or do they stand out in some way?
- No, they are ordinary guys. We communicate very well with them. There are no conversations about their parents in the team at all. For example, I communicate very well with Slavko. We often go out for a walk or something. We have great communication in the team, everyone gets along with everyone.
- Can you single out any players from the Ukrainian youth championship whose performance impresses you?
- Well, you can single out everyone from our team because we became champions. But I like the play of Dany Vashchenko from Oleksandriya - he's a good guy. I would also single out Vitya Tsukanov and Kolya Ogarkov from Shakhtar. In general, we have a lot of promising guys at this level.
- Let's get back to the first team of the White and Blues. You made your debut in Mircea Lucescu's last match as head coach of Dynamo Kyiv, and you continue to play under the guidance of the legendary Oleksandr Shovkovskyi. What has changed in the team and how do these specialists differ from each other?
- In my opinion, many changes have taken place in the team, although everything was fine under Lucescu. However, we ran more during his training sessions. The guys were more tired. I think that's why the team lacked freshness in the end.
And then Oleksandr Volodymyrovych came in, gave the team more freedom and the guys started to feel free, and the results started to follow. I'm grateful to Lucescu for giving me a chance to make my debut in adult football, and in a match against Shakhtar.
- Last campaign, you took part in eight UPL matches and managed to score a goal. Did you set a goal to score in your debut campaign at the adult level?
- I started that season in the U-19, but I always wanted to play in the first team and always went for it. And it so happened that the coaches noticed that I started to play well and even then I got a chance in the first team. I realized that I had to use it. And then the game against Veres, I was given the opportunity to prove myself again and managed to score. I was extremely happy. At the same time, I am well aware that I should not relax, I need to keep working.
- As a forward at the club, you compete with Vladyslav Vanat and Vladyslav Supryaha, the top scorers in the Ukrainian league. What is your relationship like and how difficult is it to compete with more experienced players?
- We have a normal relationship with them, but this is football. No one will progress without competition. That's why it's very good for me to have such competitors. Vanat became the best scorer in general. I also really want to achieve this, but I still have to go, work and try to score more.
I think it's good for me now that there are strikers in our team who are stronger than me and score more. I have to strive to reach the same level. Football is about competition. They both have something to learn from me. Vanat and Supryaha spent a lot of time in the Premier League, played in European competitions and were called up to the national team.
- This summer, Dynamo has been quite active in the transfer market. They signed Seballos, Pikhalenko, Bragara and Rubchynskyi. There were also reports that the club wants to acquire a striker, in particular, there was interest in Zorya forward Eduardo Guerrero. Do you have any reaction to such news?
- No, I don't. I don't pay attention at all, but I am well aware that Dynamo is a team that sets itself the highest goals. That's why it should be so. It's a natural process: newcomers come in, someone leaves. Again, it's competition.
- Do you also learn about the interest from European clubs, among which Sevilla, Wolverhampton and Brentford were mentioned, or did you receive specific offers?
- Of course, I learned about it from the press. However, my agent said that there was interest from one team, but it never came to anything serious.
- What kind of club showed such interest?
- I'd rather not say. I can only say that it was a team from the English Championship.
- What European championship do you dream of playing in? Do you have a favorite team from the top leagues?
- My favorite club is Real Madrid. I think it is the best team in the world. I think all players want to get there because it is a very big club with a great history. And, of course, my dream is to play there.
Speaking specifically about the league, it's England. It is probably the most intense championship of all. The players have a very high level of skill, so it's very interesting there. There is always a lot of competition in the Premier League, everyone can beat each other. That's why I think this championship is in first place and the most competitive.
- Are you inspired by the example of Artem Dovbyk, who, having moved from the Ukrainian championship, immediately became the best scorer in La Liga?
- Of course. This proves that everything is real nowadays. With a lot of hard work, everything is possible. This is how great success is achieved. That's why I need to work even harder.
- And who among the Ukrainians playing in the top championships also impresses you?
- I follow Girona, where Dovbyk and Viktor Tsygankov play. I'd also like to mention Oleksandr Zinchenko and Mykhailo Mudryk, as I often watch matches with their participation.
- Can you agree with the criticism that is being voiced against Zinchenko and Mudryk? Oleksandr is spoken of as a defender who defends poorly, and Mykhailo is accused of lacking stability and the necessary level of game intelligence.
- I have a different opinion on this. Zinchenko and Mudryk are already playing at such a high level - it's a lot of pressure. Those who criticize them have not been in their shoes. They do not feel it. Everything happens in football: there are ups and downs.
Maybe they are not having the best period in their careers, but I think they are top performers. It's not for nothing that they were taken by such big clubs as Chelsea and Arsenal. These teams paid a lot of money for these players. I think they will do well, everything will work out. Again, Zinchenko and Mudryk are top players, and despite the decline, as they say, in their careers, I believe in them.
- What about your future? Will you spend the next season at Dynamo, or are you ready to consider a loan to another club for a stable playing practice?
- There was no talk of a loan. I think I will stay at Dynamo, as I started working in the first team during the training camp.
- What are your expectations for the next season? Will the championship gold really return to Kyiv?
- We, the Dynamo players, have the highest goals. The club has done a very good job in this transfer window, with very good players coming in. Our goal is to reach the Champions League and, of course, to bring the championship trophy back to Kyiv. Everyone wants this. We have this goal in front of us, and everyone will strive for it next season.
- I'd like to end our conversation with a prediction about your performance in the next campaign. What is Matviy Ponomarenko's goal in terms of goals scored in the 2024/25 season?
- I don't want to speculate, it depends on how it goes. But, of course, I set big goals for myself, I want to score more, break records and become the best scorer.
- And how many goals will be enough when you can say to yourself: "Okay, this is already good".
- I think if I play even more for Dynamo's first team, it will be about 10 goals.
- That's what we'll write down - 10 goals. In the meantime, I wish you good luck in the next matches of the European Youth Championship and for our national team to reach the playoffs.
- Thank you, we will try. (Smiles).
Vladyslav Liutostanskyi