Yuriy Vernidub: "I don’t know if I would accept the invitation to lead the Ukraine national team"

The head coach of Kryvyi Rih’s "Kryvbas," Yuriy Vernidub, answering one of the questions during the press conference after yesterday’s match against Odesa’s "Chornomorets" (3:1) in the 16th round of the Ukrainian championship, touched upon the topic of the Ukraine national team.

Yuriy Vernidub. Photo — Yu. Yuriev

If we assume that the role of head coach of the Ukraine national team were entrusted to you over time, would Kuzyk definitely be in the national team?

I don’t know. I can’t say for sure. If he deserved it. Besides Kuzyk, there’s Mykolenko — he’s a “rock,” so to speak. There are left-backs, decent right-backs, and central defenders.

I think they could already call Batagov to the national team. He is being talked about, and he really is a very talented footballer who was with "Zarya" and is currently playing in Turkey. So I believe we will see him in the national team soon. I don’t work with the national team, and honestly, I will say this: if there was an invitation, I don’t know if I would accept it.