Honored coach of Ukraine Myron Markevich shared his impressions about the competition in Ukrainian football in the first half of the current season, as well as about the performances of domestic clubs on the international stage.
Myron Markevich. Photo — fckarpaty.org.ua— I will start with the Ukrainian Premier League. To be honest, I did not expect such a finale at the end of the autumn phase. I thought that there would be sharper competition in the main trio.
— And who is to blame for your expectations not coming true?
— First of all, the Kyiv Dynamo players, who, although they did not demonstrate championship-level play, were better than their pursuers in terms of stability. Secondly, Shakhtar let us down; I was convinced that the miners, given their selection of players, would be ready to fight for the championship title again. However, after failures in the Champions League, the miners also stumbled at the finish of the autumn part in the UPL. Although, believe me, with their squad, they should have been close to Dynamo players, not lagging behind by ten points.
— Who in the champions' lineup disappointed you the most?
— Sudakov and Bondarenko. Georgiy lacked consistency; he could impress with quality actions but then be inconspicuous in the next match. This is not how a leader should behave on the field. Artem simply lacks physical fitness. It’s a pity because, in terms of creativity, he is one of the best in the UPL.
— In your opinion, after such failures, should Shakhtar coach Marino Pusich resign?
— It’s difficult to give a definitive answer. I don’t know who was the initiator of his invitation or the conditions of his contract. All of this is essential.
— Or maybe things are not going well at Shakhtar because some players feel they have outgrown the team?
— It shouldn’t be like that: if you are the team leader, you should take charge when things get tough. Of course, Pusich shares some blame for such a failure; it seems he lost control over his charges. Now everyone is pulling the blanket over to their side. This indicates some internal issues within the team.
— Do you think the gap from the nearest pursuers will be enough for Dynamo to win the coveted championship title?
— It is definitely hard for "Oleksandriya" and "Shakhtar" to catch up. Especially since Dynamo, after being eliminated in January from the Europa League, will focus exclusively on domestic competitions. I am convinced that Dynamo knows its vulnerable places well and will try to get rid of them during the winter break.
— What is the essence of the issue?
— Dynamo has a short bench, and the team needs strengthening. Not just for competition for starting positions, but players who will make a difference. Considering that next season only one team from Ukraine will represent us in the Champions League, the capital club should work productively on the transfer market to avoid being in the position of a miser who pays twice. If the players of Alexander Shovkovskiy squander such a significant points advantage, it will be their fault.
— From whom else, apart from Shakhtar, did you expect more last autumn?
— From "Polissya", LNZ, "Vorskla", "Koloss". The quality of their game clearly does not correspond to the funds spent by the owners of these clubs.
— Who, on the contrary, unexpectedly made a pleasant impression on you?
— First and foremost, "Oleksandriya", which rightfully occupies second place. Ruslan Rotan created a capable, well-balanced team. It feels like everyone there has complete trust. I am also pleased with the players of "Karpaty", who can confidently be called the "disruptors of the peace".
— Do you regret not starting the season with "Karpaty"?
— You know, such is football life; everyone has their own path. At one time, I already thanked the club's management for giving me the opportunity to return "Karpaty" to the elite of Ukrainian football. It is encouraging that the core of the current team consists of players who played under my guidance or whom I invited. What complaints can there be, and how can I not root for "Karpaty"? I wish them not to stop at what they have achieved.
— Then, in your opinion, name three best players performing in the UPL?
— Vladislav Vanat from "Dynamo", "Oleksandriyan" Bezerra, and Alexey Hutsulyak from "Polissya".
— And Ivan Kaluyzhny from "Oleksandriya" can't claim the title of "Rookie of the season"?
— I think he can. I know him well since Ivan is a graduate of the "Metalist" academy when I headed that team. Hardworking, he always demanded a lot from himself. He lacks some speed, but in the position of a holding midfielder, he compensates for this drawback with selflessness and the ability to feel how the opponent's attack will unfold.
— After Kaluyzhny's successful debut in the national team of Ukraine, Shakhtar has shown interest in him. What would you advise the player?
— I still believe that Ivan should not change his address. As they say, one should not look for good from good. He is loved by the fans in "Oleksandriya", enjoys authority in the team, and is trusted by the head coach. We must not forget that it was from "Oleksandriya" that Kaluyzhny was called up to the national team. At Shakhtar, it is still unknown if he will be able to prove himself. In the end, there was information that Ivan was offered a new contract on significantly better terms. Let him think.
In concluding this conversation about the UPL championship, the level of which has genuinely declined for objective reasons, I would like to note that this is a significant achievement: there is war in the country, and football is alive. Competitions are held not only in the elite but also in the First and Second leagues, among amateurs. Therefore, we should be patient; there will be victories on our street too.
That is why, analyzing the performances of Ukrainian clubs in Eurocups, it is essential to consider today's difficulties. After all, just the logistical problems alone negatively affect match preparation and the recovery process. We can only thank those legionnaires who agreed to play for Ukrainian teams.
— The situation is slightly different with the national team of Ukraine, which consists mainly of players representing foreign clubs. On a five-point scale, what grade do you think Sergei Rebrov's charges deserve for their game in the Nations League?
— A three with a plus. First, they put themselves in a difficult position, and then they barely dug themselves out. Nevertheless, I believe this was just a warm-up; the main exam will be in the autumn of 2025, when it will be necessary to qualify for the World Cup. We are talking not only about the image of Ukrainian football but also about the opportunity to earn serious bonuses, which will then go towards developing the game for millions. As you can see, everything is interconnected.
— And can the doping story with one of the leaders of our national team Mykhailo Mudryk hinder fulfilling this task?
— There is still a lot of uncertainty in this story, so it would be inappropriate for me to comment on it. I hope Mudryk proves his innocence. I would just like to clarify that Ukraine is rich in football talents, and we have enough quality performers.
— Since we are already talking about the World Cup 2026, what do you think about the demonstration of Ukraine's map during the qualification draw, omitting Crimea...
— We should not be naive and believe that FIFA made this disgraceful mistake accidentally, that it was not done without a third party providing the necessary services. In my opinion, it was a planned provocation, a check of our readiness to give a worthy response. Nevertheless, we must not forget that Russian companies have been sponsors of competitions organized under the FIFA aegis for many years.
— Have your paths crossed with the national team rookie Kaluyzhny at "Metalist" — the team that, under Myron Markevich's leadership, achieved the most significant successes in its history? Do you stay in touch with this club?
— Of course, I often communicate with one of the leaders of this FC, Yevgeny Krasnikov. It pleases me that "Metalist" has not disappeared from the football map of Ukraine and is now prominent in the First league. Its core consists of graduates from the club academy, who are represented in Ukraine's national teams of all ages. It is not excluded that over time, they will find themselves in the main team of the country, like Ivan Kaluyzhny. I would not be surprised if the Kharkiv club returns to the UPL next season.
I maintain close ties with the ultras of "Metalist"; by the way, many guys are currently at the front, and I try to provide them with everything necessary. I have good relations with the fans of "Dnipro" and "Karpaty," which I also headed. I am very fortunate to have such friends.
— Do you maintain relations with the long-time president of FC "Metalist," Alexander Yaroslavsky?
— Yes, I hope he has not yet said his last word in Ukrainian football.
— Then, finally, tell me, should we expect your return to the coaching bridge?
— You know, the recent appointment of my contemporary Claudio Ranieri as the head coach of Italian "Roma" confirms that anything is still possible. I am in good sporting shape; at least I can comfortably endure 90 minutes playing for the veterans of "Karpaty" or the veteran team of Ukraine. I try to stay updated on football news and closely follow the events not only in the UPL but in all top leagues. Therefore, it is hard to surprise me; I am ready for a new challenge.
Andrei Pisarенко
