Former forward of Poltava’s "Vorskla" Ivan Shariy summed up the team’s performance under Yuriy Maksymov in the Ukrainian championship.
Ivan Shariy— What is my reaction to the fact that "Vorskla" is in the zone of relegation matches? I will say this: it’s still good that this is how the championship ended and it was possible to avoid direct relegation. Despite all the troubles happening inside the club, this is the best outcome. The playoff matches became obvious and expected a few rounds before the end. So now we need to prepare for both matches against "Kudrivka" to avoid complete disgrace and still remain in the elite of Ukrainian football. After all, since "Vorskla" entered the ranks of the strongest, there has never been a situation where, in the last rounds, it was "on the verge of relegation". Everything needs to be fixed. I remember that this is achievable for the Poltava team. Clearly, the "Kudrivka" team will also fight and prove their claims for the right to participate in the Premier League, but "Vorskla" is more experienced. The chances that they will emerge victorious in this duel are still higher in percentage terms.
— For the current squad of "Vorskla", the transitional matches — this is indeed the last chance to prove their professional suitability...
— That’s right. These two games against "Kudrivka" will show everything. If, God forbid, a failure happens — with these players, everything will be clear. But I believe this shouldn’t happen. I hope that they made the necessary conclusions from the failures of the season and in such, I won’t shy away from this definition, vital matches, they will gather themselves, prepare and understand how to do everything possible to remain in the elite of our football.
— There was information that supposedly regardless of the results of both matches with "Kudrivka", "Vorskla" head coach Yuriy Maksymov will still leave Poltava.
— I read about this too; it has been widely discussed in the media. But it often happens that they write one thing, think another, and what happens is completely different. I think everything will become clear after the mentioned two matches. But for now, this resembles a guessing game: the coach might leave — or he might stay. It’s 50/50, it’s such a matter. But no matter what, I’m convinced that Maksymov is not thinking about this at all right now — all his thoughts are connected to ensuring that "Vorskla" remains in the Premier League. And then it will be known what and how.
— If we assume that Maksymov indeed leaves, who, in your opinion, could head "Vorskla"? Do you think that a Ukrainian or a foreigner is needed for the role of head coach, a renowned and charismatic coach, or one who could be classified as a "working horse"?
— I don’t even know what to say about that. As far as I know, Maksymov is a principled coach; he loves having a winning spirit in the team. He himself played football at a decent level, so he only motivates his players to win. So if he leaves "Vorskla", he clearly knows something more than we do. This would mean that perhaps his future in the club does not look as it would like. If several factors aligned at once — "Vorskla" remained in the elite, Maksymov stayed in the club, and funding improved — then things would be different. When under the previous tenure of this coach there was normal funding, the team looked decent and played in Europe. But if there are funding problems in the future, then I don’t even know who would come to "Vorskla". It would be the same as we see now. Foreigners will not play on credit if debts for half a year or so are not cleared. If the funding was fine, knowing Yuriy Maksymov’s character and how he relates to every match and every training session, I’m convinced he would have stayed and brought order.
— What are your expectations regarding your native team’s fight to maintain its place among the strongest?
— I would really like "Vorskla" to remain in the elite. After all, Poltava has been playing in it for 29 years! I remember those star times when in the 1995/1996 season the team earned a place in what was then the higher league, and I was part of it. It would be very wrong to "drop out" before the 30th anniversary! I will closely follow both playoff matches against "Kudrivka". I want to wish good luck — both to the team itself and personally to Yuriy Maksymov. So that in case of victory, he breathes a sigh of relief and maybe thinks twice about leaving "Vorskla". But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, as the most important task today is these two games. And how it will go from there — we will see.
Vyacheslav Kulchytskyi
