Former Oleksandriya striker Vladislav Pogoreliy shared his views on the football philosophy of the former head coach of this team, now the coach of Zhytomyr’s Polissia, Ruslan Rotan.
Vladislav Pogoreliy— How did you end up in “Oleksandriya”? Was it a loan from “Shakhtar”?
— My loan at “Zoria” had ended. My agent and I didn’t want to extend it, and about a month later, an offer came from “Oleksandriya,” also a UPL club. Coach Rotan was very appealing as a specialist. So, I was happy to go there.
— What makes Ruslan Rotan special as a top coach?
— He promotes his style of football, which is liked and bears fruit. Ruslan Petrovich is a very demanding and qualified coach. It was a pleasure working with him. Ruslan Petrovich recently ended his football career, so he understands the players very well.
He lives football and views some aspects of the game still like an athlete. Rotan approaches every footballer, gives tips, and demonstrates the necessary elements. Today, he is one of the best coaches in Ukraine.
— Tell us more about “Rotanball.” What makes coach Ruslan Rotan’s football special?
— Besides having his own style and vision of the game, Rotan demands maximum effort from his players. All his players are engaged in a unified mechanism! If one person falls out, the mechanism stops functioning properly. This structure of play is very appealing to many.
— What’s the secret to how “Oleksandriya” climbed so high?
— First and foremost, successful signings of players helped a lot. The ambitions and playing style promoted by the coach had a significant impact. Of course, the team spirit and the quality of the collective also influenced the successes, which was top-notch.
I spent a year and a half in “Oleksandriya.” First of all, I liked the training process there and the work of the coaches. After that, I moved to “Rukh.”
Mikhail Shafir
