The midfielder of Kyiv “Dynamo”, Roman Salenko, who joined Luhansk “Zorya” on loan at the beginning of the current season, spoke about his current plans in professional football.
— You are a product of the “Dynamo” system. What has your time at the club given you in terms of schooling, playing style, mentality?
— They prepared me for adult football. Analyzing space on the football field constantly.
— Do you feel that your time at “Dynamo” laid the foundation for your professional path?
— I think it did lay the foundation for adulthood. But each individual club gave me what I’m now showing on the football field.
— You debuted for the first team of “Dynamo” against “Chornomorets” and appeared in European cups against “Galatasaray”. How do you remember those moments — what did they give you personally?
— Confidence and experience.
— You couldn’t establish yourself at “Dynamo” and eventually ended up at “Zorya”. Do you want to return there in the future?
— Yes.
— Your father is the legendary Oleg Salenko, a holder of the “Golden Boot” from the World Cup. How does his name and experience influence your career?
— I don’t pay attention to that. I want people to see me as an individual player, not just as the son of my father’s career. Dad is an example for me, but I’m building my own story.
— Is it more inspiration or additional pressure to always be seen as “Salenko’s son”?
— Well, of course, there is a desire to become better. I don’t feel pressure.
— What is the main advice from your father that you carry with you into professional football?
— To play using my body and shield the ball.
— How have you summed up the first rounds inside the locker room: what is already working in “Zorya’s” game model, and what is still “creaky”?
— We keep the ball, press the opponent well, but there are problems with finishing attacks into goals.
— How would you describe the basic idea of “Zorya” this season in three sentences?
— Control, pressing.
— Has your personal role changed compared to last season?
— The first games in the UPL, I don’t know what to compare it with.
— Last year “Zorya” was seventh. What is the current benchmark?
— We have not the best start, but it’s just the beginning. I hope we can fight for the top-5. We are getting stronger with each game. Right now, we need to correct our mistakes that affect the results.
— What are you working on the most right now?
— Scanning the space on the field. I feel that I have improved, but I always need to refine. Finishing and making the most correct and productive decisions for the team during the match.
— Next, you face “Shakhtar”. What are your expectations for this match?
— “Shakhtar” is a giant. But, as demonstrated by Karpaty and “Metalist 1925”, it is possible to compete. Yes, it will be even harder. Everything depends on us. I don’t want to say much. The game will show.
Kateryna Bondarenko