Oleksandr Kucher: "I wanted to bring Khacheridi to my team when I was coaching Dnipro-1"

The head coach of Odesa’s Chornomorets Oleksandr Kucher commented on rumors regarding the signing of former Dynamo defender Yevhen Khacheridi.

Oleksandr Kucher

— Oleksandr Mykolayovych, is it true that Chornomorets is interested in Yevhen Khacheridi?

— Yes.

— Is it your initiative to invite the highly experienced defender to your team?

— It is. We had a call once, I suggested he join Chornomorets, and he said: "Why not?". He said he still has the strength and wants to play. So, why not give it a try? Then I directly said — come, we are waiting.

And also, you know, I will reveal a little secret, I wanted to bring Khacheridi to my team when I was coaching Dnipro-1, but… It didn’t work out then.

— So Yevhen is already at the Chornomorets base in Sovin’yon?

— Not yet. Soon he will be. He will come, we will talk face to face again, and we will see in what condition he is. However, what I heard from colleagues is that he is in good shape, and he hasn’t lost his skills and professionalism. Just like in his best times.

— Chornomorets could form a very strong pair of central defenders Khacheridi-Rakytskyi, as once in the national team of Ukraine. It would be checkmate for all attackers from the first league teams!

— And Kucher will soon take off his boots too. Just joking, of course.

Viktor Hlukhenskyi