Sergiy Sidorchuk: «I will not accept the role of a substitute at Westerlo. I will continue to fight for my place in the lineup»

Ukrainian midfielder of Belgian Westerlo, Sergiy Sidorchuk, explained why he lost his position in the squad this season. The experienced midfielder participated in only three of Westerlo's thirteen matches, and in two of these cases, he came on as a substitute at the very end of the game.

Sergiy Sidorchuk (on the left)

«These have been challenging months for me. Due to my participation in Euro 2024, I joined the club later, already during the pre-season preparation. Considering my physiological characteristics, this was a significant drawback. My age (Sidorchuk is currently 33 years old, — note from the editor) and participation in the European Championship have nothing to do with this — it’s simply about how my body works. I need a bit more time — both to fully recover and to then regain lost condition.

But I want to help the team, I definitely want to mean something for Westerlo. I needed more time to fully get in shape and reach a normal level. At that moment, the team was doing well, and I lost my place in the squad. I understand my current role in the team, but I will not accept it and will continue to fight for a spot in the lineup. I still have a year and a half left on my contract with Westerlo, so I definitely want to change the current situation.

The Belgian Championship? This tournament has given me new opportunities. I worked a lot and hard to be ready to perform at this level. Physically, it was challenging to play ninety minutes right away, but in the end, I started to feel comfortable. It’s clear that right now I’ve lost my playing rhythm, but I hope I won’t have to wait too long for my next opportunity to play fully in the Belgian Championship.

As for life in Belgium, it is incredibly good here. My family has everything they need. My wife and children, who go to an international school, are happy», — quotes Sidorchuk GVA.

Translation and stylistic adaptation — Dynamo.kiev.ua, when using the material hyperlink required!