Oleksandriya defender Mykyta Kravchenko spoke about his team's bright start to the current Ukrainian championship.
Mykyta Kravchenko. Photo by FC Oleksandriya- Can Oleksandriya's intermediate result in the UPL indicate that your team has been best prepared for the start of the championship?
- If I had been told before the start of the season that we would be in the lead, I would have been happy. Now we are a little upset that we lost the victory over Rukh, but this is just the beginning.
- It is clear that matches do not always go according to your scenario. How do you manage to turn the situation in your favor?
- We have noticed that now the teams against us have started to sit low in defense. In some games, they pressed high. Each match is different with each opponent. We try to react according to the situation. Sometimes we start playing on the flanks or go into the center.
I can give you an example of the game with Left Bank (2-0), when we came out in the second half with the majority and we changed the game model.
- You joined the team before the start of the season. Did you spend a lot of time adapting?
- I honestly admit that I am still discovering something new in understanding the game. Ruslan Petrovych was with us for the first week of the preseason, then part of the team went to the Olympics and we were prepared for the season by Oleksiy Antonov, who stayed in Ukraine. The style of play is clear to me, but the adaptation continues.
- It's unexpected, because you had experience working with Spanish coaches - in particular, in the Dynamo structure with Unai Melgosa and with Vicente Gomez, for whom you also played at Olimpik. It is believed that Rotan's football is as close as possible to Iberian football.
- Indeed, the Spaniards and Ruslan Petrovych have a common feature - demandingness to the smallest detail. For me, this is an indicator.
- The team has made significant progress compared to the previous season. What did Oleksandriya work on in the summer?
- We worked fruitfully on all components, because you can't achieve results on just one quality. What did you improve? With the arrival of Sani Filippov in the team, we have a good level of performance.
- The team has made significant progress compared to the previous season. What did Oleksandriya work on in the summer?
- With the arrival of Sani Filippov in the team, we have a good level of performance.
- How can you explain in simple terms what kind of football Oleksandriya wants to play?
- Basically, it's a way out of the defense through the pass, and in front of it, use the positional advantage in a limited space.
- In our realities, is it more difficult to set up a game or to break down an echeloned defense?
- In one of the matches, Oleksandriya interrupted the opponent, who was interfering with the play down low. It's about flexibility. In general, we want to play through the pass, but if the opponent does not allow it, we need to adjust. Now we want to get results and show a great game.
- What have you personally discovered during your stay at Oleksandriya?
- Here I like that a lot depends on a player of my role. I need to work more with the ball, think more and be more variable.
- At the youth level, you played as a wing midfielder. Have you managed to improve your defense skills now?
- My previous experience gave me the confidence to join the attacks more, but I understand that I still need to improve my defense. I'm working on it, but somewhere I lack the basic settings, like the guys who have been playing defense since they were 10-12 years old.
- Do you still see any shortcomings in your game that need to be improved?
- Of course, I'm constantly working on myself and don't stop there. Among the shortcomings I would include a lack of concentration. There are times when I can choose the wrong position.
- Your focus on attacking has helped Oleksandriya in terms of performance. Is it a requirement of the coaches?
- Ruslan Petrovych demands from the full-backs to be useful up front and in defense. I also often come up for standards. This has paid off.
"The appearance of Kalyuzhnyi and Martyniuk on the radar of the Ukrainian national team inspires the rest of the players"
- Let's go back a few months. Why did you choose Oleksandriya?
- Back when I was playing for Polissia on loan, I received reports that Oleksandriya was watching me. When my loan expired and I had six months left on my contract with Dynamo, I talked to the Surkis brothers and decided to leave in the summer, after which I moved to Oleksandriya.
- Did you have any other options besides Oleksandriya?
- Yes, there were. Several UPL clubs contacted me.
- Can you name the most uncomfortable opponent of Oleksandriya in the opening rounds?
- It's hard with everyone. We try to play with everyone and get results.
- A video of how you eliminated your opponent with Berbatov's feint in the match against Left Bank went viral on social media. Was it spontaneous?
- Yes, it was. It was just that Sanya Filippov dropped the ball under the wrong foot. I had to get out of it.
- Your teammates have started to be invited to the Ukrainian national team. Does this inspire the rest of the guys to work even harder?
- It's very inspiring to be called up to the national team. I also dream of one day going out on the field in a blue and yellow shirt. The appearance of Kalyuzhnyi and Martyniuk on the radar of the Ukrainian national team inspires the rest of the players.
- What is the pillar of stability in your results?
- Everyone can see that we have a good team with a good coaching staff, but we want to talk about it after the championship.
"Dovbyk's example shows that the impossible is possible"
- Recalling the last match with Rukh (1:1), was it a big blow to the team to lose the victory in the last seconds?
- Everyone was upset after the game. But it happens in football. It was an instructive lesson for us.
- The UAF Referees Committee recognized that a penalty should not have been awarded against you, as the Kampush-Krasnopir moment was out of context. What do you think?
- I would not like to comment on the referees' decisions. There are more competent people in these matters.
- Your next opponent, Vorskla Poltava, is ranked 12th and is on a 6-match winless streak. Is it difficult to play against teams that have not won for a long time?
- In my opinion, if an opponent hasn't won for a long time, they become even angrier and more aggressive when they come out to play against you.
- Do you follow the results of your former teams? For example, Polissia is breathing down your neck. Is it expected?
- Everything shows the result. In the spring, after the training camp, the team got into turbulence: a change of coach, they couldn't recover for a long time. We lost a lot of points, but in the end, the team was able to solve the problem of getting into the European Cups. It's a very cool result to get into the top 5 in the first season.
- What can you say about the global restructuring at Kolos?
- I have great relationships with many people at Kolos. The team is going through a difficult time. They are slowly gaining points. I see that things are getting better in Kovalivka.
- Before the full-scale invasion of Russia, you had a short loan at Dnipro-1. Was the team really competitive with Jovicevic?
- Oleksandriya's physical training coach, who was in that team, and I often recalled that time. We had Dovbyk and Pikhalonok on the team, strong performers and coaching staff. I remember that time with a smile on my face.
- Does Dovbyk's example inspire you to achieve football achievements? 3 years ago you played together and now he is conquering Serie A.
- Definitely. Hard work and a set goal make the impossible possible.
- In which top championship, if possible, would you like to try your hand?
- Spain.
"Unai and Vicente have done a lot for me to play at a high level"
- At the start of your adult career, you suffered a serious injury. How did this experience help you become stronger?
- I was in Dynamo's first team, played a few matches, and when it happened, it was very painful. I realized that I was one step away from the base and it would set me back. When I returned 7-8 months later, I realized that it would be difficult to regain my lost position at Dynamo. I had to go on loan.
- Ironically, if Pivaric hadn't torn the crosses, Mykolenko wouldn't have gotten his chance. You got the opposite story.
- There is nothing you can do. You just have to accept everything as it is.
- Can you say that the experience of working with Vicente and Unai at Dynamo helped you not to get lost in adult football?
- They taught me a lot of things. Not only for me, but also for the other guys. When we saw each other at the training camp in Turkey, we had a very warm chat.
- Which of the guys in Dynamo's structure had potential but didn't realize it?
- I can say that, rather, most of the guys played rather than vice versa.
Oleksandr Karpenko
