Head coach of the Ukraine national team Sergei Rebrov spoke on the YouTube channel "Football 360" about preparations for the playoff matches of the Nations League against Belgium.
Sergei Rebrov. Photo — UAF— First of all, I am grateful to the clubs for helping the national team gather earlier. This is a very important gathering because we already had this experience before the playoff games when we gathered players without those playing abroad. I think this is very important not only for the first team.
I looked at potential candidates for the first team from the youth team. I told the guys that the next step is the first team. We are grateful to the players who were at this training camp and grateful to the clubs for letting them go. I am sure that we spent this time very well and prepared.
— Perhaps someone from the youth team stood out to you during this camp?
— I can only say that there was a very strong desire from everyone. Yesterday we had a practice match, and the guys gave their all in this game. They worked with pleasure, and this is a chance for them. I don’t want to single anyone out; I never do that. The words of the head coach of the Ukraine national team carry a lot of weight for each individual player. So I will say this: I am grateful to everyone.
— At this stage of training, there were no legionnaires around whom the team is built. What were the main differences in the coaching process because of this?
— The training process itself hasn't changed much; not much has changed in it. This is a result of the fact that the training processes in the national and youth teams are similar. The other thing is that the national team hasn't gathered for more than three months. Each player has his own requirements in his club. It is very important to remind the guys of everything we have worked on, to spend some time with them, conduct theoretical sessions, and hold enough practices to refresh for them everything that exists in our team.
— What do the matches against Belgium in the Nations League playoffs mean to you specifically?
— I believe that any game for the Ukraine national team is now a very great responsibility. You cannot say that this game is important, and the other one is not. When players arrive, I see their desire; everyone wants to play and, what is very important, to win. Yes, we played against Belgium at Euro 2024, but that was a completely different game where our opponent didn’t particularly need a win, which cannot be said about us.
Now we have two strategic games ahead. But, as I said, for the Ukraine national team, any game is very important now: it is very important to bring positive emotions to our people.
— Yarmolenko has returned to the national team. What role do you assign to him in the team?
— I don't know. (Laughs). Look, there was a training session just now, and Andriy was one of the best in terms of running. I don’t know who says he needs to retire; that’s for him to decide. He works just as he did before. I respect Andriy very much; he has done a lot for the national team, for Dynamo Kyiv, and for Ukrainian football in general. But he is not here now just because he has done something in the past: he is the leader of Dynamo who helps the team fight for the championship.
— This may be Yarmolenko's last call-up to the national team. He is two goals away from Shevchenko's record. Is there a task for a hat-trick?
— I haven’t thought about that at all. I am sure Andriy hasn’t either. I have no doubt he will give his all on the field and won’t think about any records.
— This time, there will be no Mudryk in the national team. Have you thought about who will take his position?
— I was listening to Garcia (Rudi Garcia, head coach of the Belgium national team — ed.). He said he has already decided how he will play against Ukraine. But we are just waiting for no one from the guys who have not yet arrived at the national team camp to get injured.
In yesterday's practice match, we tried some options for Mudryk's position. We’ll see. Today or tomorrow, all the legionnaires will join us, and then we will decide who is ready and to what extent. We have two matches. In this confrontation, it is very important not to think only about the first game.
— The national team has three forwards: Dovbik, Yaremchuk, Vanat. What do you think of their current form? Will we be able to see them play against Belgium at the same time, two of them?
— You have already seen two at the same time, namely in the match against Belgium. So, it is possible. As I said, we will now look at the state of the players. Fans always think that the coach can guess the lineup or not, but it is very important that the players who are really ready to work hard are on the field. So, who will play, we will decide directly before the match. So right now, I can't tell you who will play in attack and whether we will play with two forwards. But from the training sessions, I see that the guys are in good condition.
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