Arseniy Batagov, defender of the Ukrainian Olympic team, commented on the victory over Morocco (2-1) in the 2nd round of the group stage of the 2024 Olympics on the Youtube channel vZbirna.
Arseniy Batagov- You started with two center backs. We replaced Taloverov with Saliuk, who was your partner. How was the understanding? It seemed to me that you started confidently enough.
- I can say that I played a lot with both Taloverov and Saliuk in pairs. Previously, I played with Taloverov in the youth national team, and then in the new cycle of the youth national team I played with Saluk all the games, we played five official matches with him, so the chemistry is at a good level. I think we played very well.
- The Moroccans started the second half very actively, creating moment after moment. But you acted very selflessly - you just, I think, were ready to go all out. What was the setup after the first half, what did the coach say?
- This is the only way to win games like this, I think. We had to get over ourselves and give ourselves completely on the football field.
- How much did the fact that the Moroccans were making a lot of noise in the stands affect you? Or, perhaps, on the contrary - after the empty stadiums of the UPL, it inspired you?
- The only thing that was difficult was that we couldn't hear each other, it was difficult to give suggestions. When we had the ball, the whole stadium was whistling, and we couldn't hear each other. But it's exciting, and you get a certain curiosity in such games. You're right, we don't have this in the Ukrainian championship. It was very interesting, and it's good that the result turned out this way.
- How much did the penalty change the plan for the second half that the coach gave you?
- Of course, we wanted to score more, but they started the second half quite well, they started pressing us a little bit one-on-one. We couldn't get out from under the pressure, and maybe this moment was already coming. But I don't understand a little bit that there is a rule in football about double punishment. This should not be the case. If it's a penalty kick, it's a yellow card, if it's a last-ditch foul in the penalty area, it's a red card. I believe we have such rules. But I don't know, we've been sent off by the referee for two games in a row...
- Do they want to kill us?
- They want to kill us.
- Do you think there was a violation?
- I think there was a violation, but it was not a red card.
