Renowned Ukrainian coach Yuriy Virt shared his thoughts on the current situation in the Ukrainian national team and its upcoming matches in the League of Nations against Georgia (October 11) and the Czech Republic (October 14).
Yuriy Virt. Photo by FC Niva- On the eve of the October cycle, many players of the national team of Ukraine were injured and, accordingly, there were many substitutions. Were you embarrassed by such injuries and the large number of substitutions?
- Not at all. Why should it be embarrassing? There are players who can replace them. Yes, we understand that Tsygankov, Lunin and others are injured. Of course, it would be better if we had a full complement of players, so that everyone would be in the lineup. But we have what we have.
There is no football without injuries. Therefore, there is no need to make a big tragedy. There are players who can replace them in these matches. I do not see this as a tragedy.
- After the defeats in the September matches of the League of Nations, discussions began about attracting new players to the Ukrainian national team...
- You just asked a good question! We can take new players and watch them in these matches. Let's see if Serhiy Stanislavovych will give them playing time to prove themselves for the national team. But the fact that they deserved this challenge is true: Hutsulyak, Nazarenko, Kalyuzhny, and Riznyk.
I think there is a national team that has to play now and achieve results. There are players who have to play well and show good results.
- In September, Ukraine's national team suffered two defeats in the League of Nations, which led to sharp criticism. Do you think these results and the tournament situation will be a wake-up call for Rebrov's team?
- Indeed, the results were negative, and there was criticism, and it is fair - there are two defeats. Fans always look at the scoreboard, and it doesn't add to our mood right now. So I think that both the players and the coaching staff will draw conclusions. I think they wanted to win, but many things didn't work out.
But I can't say that we had bad games, and we failed everything and lost to the opponent. There were good parts, and I think the conclusions have been drawn, the players understand everything perfectly.
Now we read their interviews with many online resources that "we are going to get together", "we are preparing", "we want to win", "we can do it". This is good news because we see a fighting spirit. Now the most important thing is to prove it on the football field.
- The Georgian national team reached the Euro 2024 playoffs in the summer and is now the leader of our group in the League of Nations. Is Georgia the most serious rival for the Ukrainian national team?
- I think so. For me, this Georgian national team is the strongest of all time. They have a galaxy of good players. They made it to the Euros, and now the team is showing a good game, backed by a great result. Indeed, this is a very interesting and serious opponent now. It will be extremely difficult to act against them.
But with all due respect to the Georgians and their game, Ukraine still has to look at its own game and demonstrate its best features. The players have to show their best game. We have already talked about the result.
It will be extremely difficult. We know that the Georgian national team has a good selection of players. We can say that Kvaratskhelia is the leader of this team. There is goalkeeper Mamardashvili, who is considered one of the best in the world. Therefore, the Georgian national team has a galaxy of good players. The more interesting the match will be.
We will play with Georgians in Poland. I think that many Ukrainians will come to Poland to support our team. Therefore, we will count on a positive result.
- In September, the Ukrainian national team lost to the Czech Republic with a score of 2-3. What should Ukrainians change in the game to change the result to a positive one?
- To play more aggressively from the first minutes, because when the Ukrainian national team concedes, they play more aggressive football with a lot of pressure on the opponent. I would like it to start like this from the first minute, to play more boldly.
We said a lot that the Czech Republic has big players, that there would be a lot of struggle. But we won that whole fight and scored after two assists. Indeed, you have to win fights. We need to manage the ball better, because somewhere our ball handling is limping. The most important thing is to be bolder, more aggressive in the attack, to try to score a goal first.
- Against the backdrop of the problems in the Ukrainian national team, there was talk about Serhiy Rebrov's future. Should the UAF look for a new coach if the results do not improve?
- We have the UAF president, and he has many assistants who know more than all of us put together. In my opinion, in any case, Serhiy Stanislavovych has to work until the end of the Nations League. Then we need to look at the result, the game and then make a decision. There should be no question of dismissal or resignation until the new year. For me, this (talk of Rebrov's possible dismissal - ed.) is incomprehensible.
There is the League of Nations. We will play the Nations League, and then I think the leaders of our Association can look at the result, at the game and then make some decisions. I think that before that, it doesn't make any sense.
- What is your forecast for the matches against Georgia and the Czech Republic? What do you expect from these matches?
- I think the national team can and does get results. I have faith in this team. Even though we said that there are many injured. But we are playing eleven players for eleven players, and we have quality players. I think that in terms of mentality, everything will be fine, and Ukraine will be able to win points, positive results, victories. It can do it, it has proven it.
Yes, there are setbacks, bad games. But all national teams go through this. I hope that this crisis result is a thing of the past. We need to look forward and hope to show that Ukraine can play good football and show good results.
Anton Greskiv
