The midfielder of Kolos from Kovalivka and the youth national team of Ukraine Vladyslav Veletien, who is a graduate of Kyiv’s Dynamo, spoke about Euro-2025 (U-21) and summarized the results of the Ukrainian championship of the 2024/25 season.
Vladyslav Veletien. Photo — FC "Kolos""I was ready to play in all matches at Euro-2025"
— Vlad, it has been a few days since the youth national team’s performance at Euro-2025 ended. What remains in your heart after this tournament?
— Of course, after such a performance, only negative emotions inside. Personally, I have a certain sense of unfulfillment left.
— I heard the opinion that the defeat to Denmark in the first match left a strong imprint. Is that true?
— I cannot say that it left a strong imprint. Of course, it was unpleasant to lose such a match. But in the press and in general, everyone supported us. They said it was a good game and everything should go well from then on. Especially since we won the next game.
— The team was preparing in Spain, and in Slovakia, the climate is completely different: high-altitude conditions that affect physical state. Is it true that this difference played a role?
— Probably yes. Because you need to prepare either where you will be playing or somewhere nearby so that the climate does not differ too much.
— You played in the match against Finland, which our team won. Were you ready to play against the Netherlands or were there reasons from the coaching staff not to let you on the field?
— I was ready to play in all matches. But I only played against Finland. I do not know why it was that way. Unfortunately, no one explained it to me. I was healthy and in good shape.
— Did you feel public pressure regarding expectations from the match with the Netherlands? I mean conversations about just not losing and we would be in the playoffs and so on.
— I think no one felt pressure, but we all felt responsibility towards the fans. Everyone understood that from the first minutes no one wanted to play for a draw; we wanted to attack, to win, but it turned out like this…
— Who do you think will win this Euro?
— Portugal (the conversation took place on Friday, June 20 — ed.).
"Kostyshyn added discipline and family spirit to Kolos"
— Last season you became the main discovery of Kolos, playing 26 matches in the UPL, scoring 4 goals and providing 5 assists. How satisfied are you with yourself this season?
— A decent season, but you always want more. In sports, you always have to want more.
— In an interview with the BurBuzz project, Ruslan Kostyshyn spoke very warmly about you, even calling you "the little astronaut." Why "the little astronaut"?
— I don’t know; you should ask him. Ruslan Volodymyrovych started to call me that sometimes, but I do not dispute anything with the coach. (Smiles).
— Overall, from that interview, it seems that Ruslan Volodymyrovych missed working. With his arrival, Kolos significantly improved its results. What has changed in the team since he came?
— I think our coach wants to start preparing for the new season faster. When Ruslan Kostyshyn came, he added discipline and a family spirit to us. He has a lot of experience both as a player and as a coach. Experience at a very high level. He knows what, when, and in which situation to do.
— The match against Shakhtar in the spring (4:2) – was it the best of your career?
— Yes.
— Ruslan Volodymyrovych said that in that game "Shakhtar" underestimated "Kolos," and for that, you punished them. In what way did this underestimation manifest during the game?
— How can you underestimate a team? You might think that you can easily beat them, that the game will be an easy stroll. It seems to me that there was some attitude like that. Plus, they did not completely analyze our strengths.
— Your victory over "Shakhtar" proved that millions do not always play football?
— Money is very important in football.
— In that match, you scored one goal and gave three assists. And you are a graduate of "Dynamo." Admit it: it was nice to defeat "Shakhtar," considering your Dynamo past?
— I will say that it was very pleasant because at that moment "Shakhtar" was the champion of Ukraine and one of the two giants of our football.
"I follow Real and Girona"
— Essentially, in the youth national team, you played together with those who were with you in "Dynamo": Brazhko, Vanat, Neshcheret, Voloshin. How many years have you been playing together?
— About 13 years, since the beginning of the "Dynamo" academy. In general, if we take the full list of everyone we worked with then, almost all of the players are now playing in the Premier League.
— At one time, Spanish specialists worked at the "Dynamo" academy: the same Melgosa, Vicente Gomez. Do you speak Spanish?
— No, I don’t know. I have not played in Spain, I have not trained there, so I do not speak the language.
— Do you follow La Liga? Who do you like the most?
— La Liga is my favorite championship. In general, I like Spain as a country. I follow Real and Girona.
— What did the victory over the youth national team of Spain show you before Euro-2025?
— It showed that we can play on equal terms with any team and win.
— We mentioned your statistics in the UPL last season – 4+5. What numbers do you want to see next season?
— I would like to double those figures. Or even more.
Danylo Vereitin
