Bournemouth defender Ilya Zabarnyi of the Ukrainian national team shared his expectations for the opening matches of the 2024/25 Nations League (against Albania and the Czech Republic), assessed the start of the season in the English Championship and commented on the performances of his former team, Dynamo Kyiv.
Ilya Zabarny"Dovbyk and Lunin worked very hard throughout the year and were rewarded with this award."
- Ilya, how do you feel, have you completely switched from club football to the national team?
- I feel good. I think that from the first day all the players of the national team switched, and I am no exception. Everyone understands what tasks we have to face, so we are preparing diligently.
- What is the atmosphere in the team now? Have you already forgotten about Euro 2024, or do you still discuss the European Championship with your teammates?
- Sometimes we talk about it, because not everything went as we wanted at the Euros. In terms of the result, our performance was not very positive, but in terms of the experience we needed, and for our country in these difficult times, it was very important.
- What do you expect from the matches against Albania and the Czech Republic in the League of Nations, have you and the coaching staff analyzed the opponents yet?
- We haven't analyzed the opponents yet, but the games will be tough - 100%. We will tune in to this. We understand that there can be no excuses! We will go out and win.
- Dovbyk was nominated for the Ballon d'Or, and Lunin for the best goalkeeper. Did you expect such recognition for your teammates?
- Yes, we did. It is fully deserved. They are great. Dovbyk and Lunin worked very hard throughout the year and received such a reward. I am very happy for them and congratulate the guys.
"The hardest thing in England was to adapt to the high intensity, which is the highest among all the championships"
- Let's talk a bit about club football. How would you assess the start of the season for Bournemouth and for you personally?
- Not a bad start, although it could have been better. Five points in three games is good, but I expected more.
- Tell us a bit about Mykolenko's thriller match with Everton. "Bournemouth were 0-2 down, but they made an incredible comeback and won 3-2 in extra time.
- The match was very difficult. It's hard for all teams to play in Liverpool, because there is a great atmosphere at Goodison Park, the fans are driving Everton forward. However, we did not give up until the very end and were rewarded with three points.
We already had a similar situation last season with Luton, when we were 0-3 down after the first half and eventually won 4-3. After that match, I realized that anything is possible in football. Even when we were losing to Everton 0-2, I believed in victory until the last second.
It was an incredible feeling. It was very hard: there were few chances, but everyone did well, we played to the end and our substitutions worked.
- This is your second season in England. Have you fully adapted and what was the hardest thing to adjust to?
- Yes, I have fully adapted and am ready for anything. The hardest thing was to adapt to the high intensity, which is the highest among all the championships.
- Tell us about Andoni Areola's requirements, what kind of coach is he and what does he pay attention to?
- He is a good coach and I am very impressed with him. At training, we work a lot on pressing, the emphasis is on this. Last season, we scored a lot of goals and won a lot of matches thanks to the pressure.
- Who are your best friends at Bournemouth?
- I would say I'm friends with everyone, but I don't have any close friends. I communicate very well with the guys who speak Spanish: Neto, Marcos Senesi, Enes Unal. I am also very close with Alex Scott and James Hill.
- Which of the Ukrainian players in England do you communicate with the most and do you have time for that?
- Most of all, I communicate with Mykolenko. But I don't have much time because our teams have a very busy schedule. It should also be noted that Bournemouth is a long way from Liverpool, so we meet with Vitaliy when we both can.
- There are a lot of transfer rumors around you. The greatest interest was attributed to Tottenham. Was there any specifics from the London club?
- There have always been rumors, but I haven't talked to my agents about it and I'm focused on playing at Bournemouth. And then we'll see, I don't know anything yet.
"It seems to me that Mykhavko still needs to gain experience at Dynamo and his transition to the top championships is not far off"
- Do you follow Dynamo? How do you like your home club's performance at the start of the season?
- "Dynamo is doing well and I really like their game. I haven't seen any UPL matches, but I watched the Champions League qualifiers. I'll be honest: "I was pleasantly surprised by Dynamo.
I wish them success and I believe that the Europa League for young players and the whole team is a very cool tournament where you can prove yourself and gain experience. If Dynamo plays as well as they did in the Champions League qualifiers, they have every chance of reaching the Europa League playoffs.
- There is a lot of talk about Mykhavko now, people call him the "new Zabarny". Do you think he is ready for the transition to the top European championship?
- I've seen Mikhavko, he's a very good footballer. I am impressed by the way he plays with the ball and fights. It seems to me that he still needs to gain experience at Dynamo, and his transition to the top championships is not far off. I wish him all the best.
- Last question: Ilya, where do you see yourself in five years?
- My career has gone so fast, so I don't even know what might happen in five years. It is still very far away.
Andriy Piskun
