The now former defender of Poltava’s «Vorskla», Ilya Krupsky commented on his move to Kharkiv’s «Metalist 1925» and spoke about the interest from Kyiv’s «Dynamo» and Donetsk’s «Shakhtar».
— Ilya, congratulations on this new stage in your career and signing a contract with «Metalist 1925». The papers were indeed signed just now because there were so many rumors, and you were already called a player of the Kharkiv club just a week ago?
— I did sign the papers with «Metalist 1925» a few days ago, but it was only on January 25 that all the details were finalized, so to say, and that’s why it was officially announced.
— Let’s put a period on yet another question. Will you be playing the second part of the season with «Metalist 1925» or finishing up with «Vorskla»?
— I will be playing the second half of the season for «Vorskla» on loan. In fact, I am currently with the Poltava team. We are now at a training camp in Turkey, in the Antalya region.
— Were there any attempts from the management of «Vorskla» to keep you at the club? Like, «we will raise your salary»?
— There was no such offer for one simple reason: «Metalist 1925» activated my clause. The decision to move or stay was entirely mine.
«Vorskla» has given me a lot; I am grateful to this club, I have made a name for myself there.
— You signed a contract for four years. Quite a long-term agreement. Why did you agree to such a term, and how did the representatives of «Metalist 1925» motivate you to say «yes» to them?
— That’s right, the deal is for four years. And how they motivated me… You know, «Metalist 1925» is a very ambitious project. I am confident that starting next year the team will be playing in the UPL and not just playing, but will be fighting for a place in the top three.
It also played a significant role that I had a conversation with the head of the supervisory board, Bohdan Boiko, and heard from him personally how he envisions the future of «Metalist 1925» and my role in it. He managed to convince me, and I realized that this is the club where I really want to play.
But I admit that the decision was not easy, because there were parallel negotiations with «Shakhtar». There was an official offer from «Shakhtar» to «Vorskla». Clubs were fighting for me. The choice was not simple, but I am sure that I did everything right by agreeing to the offer from «Metalist 1925», rather than the Donetsk club.
— Sorry, but it sounds a bit strange. «Shakhtar» is a giant of domestic football, and «Metalist 1925» is an ambitious project, but so far no more than that. Perhaps you were a bit afraid of the competition because winning a spot in the «miners’» starting lineup is definitely more difficult than making it into the core of the Kharkiv team?
— No. Believe me, I am definitely not afraid of competition. Competition is, on the contrary, a good thing. It’s a bit simpler: I believe that in «Metalist 1925» I will have more chances to develop calmly, progress, than in «Shakhtar», and later make it into the national team of Ukraine, and then move to some European club giant.
— And what about «Dynamo»? They say the Kyiv club showed interest in you or were those just rumors?
— My agent communicated with the Kyiv club, but it didn’t come to a concrete offer. «Dynamo» was just interested in me, nothing more.
— Regarding clubs from Europe. Were there offers from abroad in the winter?
— Yes, but not from Europe. There was an invitation from the American «New England Revolution». I turned them down. MLS is not quite clear to me as a league. This is, firstly. Secondly, it’s too far away. I am at such an age, 20 years, that I consider it reasonable to play in Ukraine or Europe for now. In fact, playing in Europe is my main goal, priority.
— And how did Maksimov react (Yuriy Maksimov, head coach of «Vorskla», — ed. note)? Yuriy Vilyovich, they say, is somewhat hot-tempered.
— Calmly. He congratulated me and wished me success. In fact, it was after the meeting between Maksimov and the representatives of «Metalist 1925» that it was decided that I would remain with the Poltava team until the end of the season. I need to help the team improve its tournament position.
Yuriy Vilyovich told me directly that he expects me to be a key player, despite the fact that a contract has already been signed with «Metalist 1925».
Viktor Glukhenky