Ukrainian coach Oleg Fedorchuk summarized the first part of the season in the First League.
Oleg Fedorchuk— Who has impressed you the most in the autumn part of the First League season?
— Three clubs. First of all — ‘Metalist’, as they have one of the youngest teams. Almost a youth squad, demonstrating excellent football. And in our time, when “Shakhtar” and “Dynamo” dominate in the national teams, there are two players from “Metalist” in the youth teams. This is a miracle and a good job by the management.
Secondly, I noted the quality work of ‘Epicenter’. Both the coaching staff and the management, which managed to pick promising players. In Kamianets-Podilskyi, young performers are also in the forefront, such as Danilo Kravchuk and Ivan Bendera. This team not only has its own style, but is also very stable. Probably, the most stable in the league.
The third team that impressed me is YKSA. They have decent legionnaires, prospects, and ambitions.
— ‘Metalist 1925’ is probably the best team in terms of names. In the summer, Vladlen Yurchenko, Vyacheslav Churko, and Vasily Kravets came there. But the team only managed to break into the "championship group" at the end of the autumn part of the season. What is the reason for the not quite convincing results?
— There are several reasons. I believe that the previous coaching staff (Victor Skrypnyk — ed. note) failed their job. First of all — functionally. When ‘Metalist 1925’ played against teams contending for serious places — they collapsed in the second halves. This indicates a very weak functional readiness for the season.
Moreover, such teams are very difficult psychologically and require a lot of work from the coaching staff, as they have high salaries compared to others, and the players have the impression that they can play based on class.
We see such examples not only in Ukraine. For example, in France, PSG faced this. In England, Manchester City is struggling. I believe that in Guardiola's team there are psychological problems. Sometimes it is very difficult to find motivation for players. There must be not only a desire to earn a lot of money but also a fear of not getting into the lineup.
I believe that in the Kharkiv team, the removal of Harmash from the squad was one of the signs of an attempt to psychologically bring the team to its senses. Their finish was quite good, so I think that in the spring, ‘Metalist 1925’ will be one of the contenders for high places. Sooner or later, the quality of players brings dividends.
— So, the team's unconfident play over a long period this autumn is not the problem of van Leeuwen's work?
— No. To change the game of the team takes time. At least two to three months. And if it also happens that the team is in a stressful state — more. And that is exactly what happened with ‘Metalist 1925’. The Kharkiv team unexpectedly dropped out of the UPL, and then also unexpectedly lost in the playoff matches.
The Dutch specialist is now conducting shock therapy, aimed at gaining points. The quality of the game will be built during the winter break.
And it should be noted that he does not have much experience. Before working in Ukraine, he had no practice as a head coach, and what he is going through now is not so simple. However, van Leeuwen coped and he is on the right path.
— How much greater are the financial capabilities of ‘Metalist 1925’ compared to those in other clubs of the First League?
— My impression is that it is three to five times greater compared to other leading teams. You don’t need to be Sherlock Holmes to understand that when the team was in the UPL, it was not the smallest in terms of salary level, and after the relegation, they did not decrease, it speaks of a good level.
We remember that under Viktor Skrypnyk, the salary was the second highest in the Premier League, and Patrick van Leeuwen would not accept less than around 30,000 euros per month. So we understand what the budget is there.
— ‘Metalist’ has several players who are called up to the national teams of Ukraine — Gennady Synchuk, Kyrylo Dihtiary, Yegor Abramov. In ‘Metalist 1925’ — the Zambian national team player Golden Mafwenta. Can they progress while being in the First League?
— One can be in the Champions League and in the First League. But the point is that a young guy needs to play at least three matches a month to progress. If less — there will be nothing, except perhaps skills in behavior in the locker room.
So it is very important that the risk in betting on young players is accepted not only by coaches but also by the club management. Then the team’s mentor will understand that he has no threat of immediate dismissal and will put the young ones on the field.
— At the start of the season, there were certainly talks about “Bukovyna.” However, later we saw a change of coach. What went wrong for Valeriy Kryventsov?
— I am not inside the team, but I note that the nervousness of the coaching staff was felt. Valeriy Kryventsov had dismissals and various emotions. There are not many spectators in the stands now, so it is very good to hear how the coach behaves.
However, this was only one component. I also noted that the club's transfer policy was very unconvincing. In Chernivtsi, there are declarations of very decent funds, but they took players about whom one cannot say that they produced results anywhere before.
In my opinion, a lot of unnecessary declarations have been made by the club’s management. If there is finance, it should not be declared. It’s like with Freud: when people talk a lot about something, it is precisely what they do not have enough of.
— Who is the best legionnaire in the First League right now?
— The winger of ‘Metalist 1925’ Ari Mooura. In this half-year, he not only scored a lot (eight — the highest number in the division — ed. note), but also beautiful and most importantly — important goals. He can outplay any defender and plays with reserve.
In general, there are decent legionnaires in YKSA — forward Wendy, winger Gabriel, attacking midfielder Castro. However, there is a problem that they are many and not too stable. This is a characteristic feature of Brazilians, which lies in the fact that they can play one match well, and another fail.
— Which club disappointed you the most?
— Of course, ‘Mariupol’, but there are their own reasons, so we leave this club aside. I expected more from ‘Nyva’ (Ternopil), and ‘Podillia’ also disappoints for the second year in a row. In my opinion, there are too many aged footballers in Khmelnytskyi who are just finishing their careers.
In Group B, ‘Victoria’ performed worse than their potential. The club made a strategic mistake, as they passed LNZ in a difficult 1/8 final match of the Ukrainian Cup, and this later prevented them from making it to the top 4. After the Cup, they lost three matches and could not recover.
However, the biggest disappointment is ‘Minai’. This football Titanic is sinking so rapidly that it’s painful to watch as it drags down a promising coach Zhelko Lubenovich and several players who have shown themselves in the UPL.
— Regarding ‘Nyva’ (Ternopil). After seven rounds, the team was at the bottom of Group A. But then Yuriy Virt became the head coach, and the Ternopil team rose to fifth place. What changed in the team’s game after his arrival?
— In Ternopil, at the start of the season, there was a young coach (Yevhen Kalyhynchenko). Under him, the team played quite well, but there were no results (not in the leaders of Group A). Young specialists often experience this, their aesthetics of the game is often in first place.
Then, with the arrival of the emotional coach Yuriy Virt, the team rallied and showed a decent spell of performances. There are coaches like Vitaliy Kvaratskhelia or Yuriy Virt. With their emotionality, they quickly change the team’s appearance. It's not a fact that this will help in the long run, but for now — yes.
In Ternopil, the problem is that the team has a very unevenly assembled squad.
— The main contenders for direct promotion to the UPL?
— ‘Metalist 1925’ and ‘Epicenter’.
— Who do we expect in the play-offs for promotion to the UPL?
— ‘Agrobusiness’ and YKSA.
— The play-off to remain in the First League?
— ‘Kremin’ and FSK ‘Mariupol’. But we can have a situation where no one will be left to play here, as the teams will withdraw from the competition. This is what I fear.
— Who do we expect to see at the bottom of the league table?
— We can mention the names ‘Kremin’ and ‘Mariupol’, and also add the candidacy of ‘Dinaz’.
— Besides ‘Mariupol’, which team may not finish the season in the First League?
— There may also be problems with ‘Dinaz’.
— Who will become the top scorer of the division at the end of the season?
— Two contenders: Ari Mooura and Danilo Kravchuk. The latter impressed me a lot. In teams like ‘Livyi Bereh’, ‘Veres’, and ‘Obolon’, he would be very useful.
Oleksandr Shcherbatykh
