The iconic defender of Kyiv’s “Dynamo” from the 70s and 80s, Sergiy Baltacha commented on the rumor surrounding Ukrainian midfielder Yegor Yarmolyuk from “Brentford” who is being linked to “Chelsea”.
Sergiy Baltacha— Sergiy Pavlovych, have you heard about Chelsea’s interest in Yarmolyuk? Do you think the “Blues” are really interested in the Ukrainian player, or is it just agent games trying to inflate his price, and can Yegor handle playing for this London club, a top club in the Premier League, in case of a transfer?
— Isn’t “Brentford” also playing in the Premier League?
— Exactly, in the elite division of English club football.
— So, whether top or not top, it’s a good club, a solid mid-table team, which had a very good coach last season, I’m talking about Thomas Frank (the Dane moved to “Tottenham” in the summer — ed.).
Personally, I’m not acquainted with Frank, but my British colleagues have told me that he knows how to bring out young talents. And it’s under him that Yarmolyuk has played well.
I’ll put it this way: if the information is true, then it means Yegor has really reached the level of “Chelsea”, because such clubs don’t just buy anyone and don’t pay much attention.
— Yarmolyuk has really progressed a lot over the last season and a half, but personally, I’m troubled by his personal statistics: zero goals and one assist in 75 matches for “Brentford”, and even in Ukraine, only one goal for “Dnipro-1”! And he’s not a defensive midfielder, but a central midfielder, an “eight”. You scored even more playing defense for “Dynamo”!
— As for a central midfielder, Yarmolyuk’s statistics are indeed poor. He needs to score, of course, but we don’t know what tasks the coach sets for him in each game. Maybe the “Brentford” coach sees him as a player who should provide assists or win the ball back more.
— Regarding the potential transfer of Yarmolyuk to “Chelsea”. Will they not conduct a particularly thorough medical exam after Mudryk’s doping scandal?
— All medical procedures in modern clubs are standard — there is an algorithm and a working system.
— And in general, is the London club ready again to acquire a Ukrainian? In my opinion, Mykhailo has really put a huge strain on all our guys who aspire to play in Europe.
— Yes, because of Mudryk, there is currently a certain stain on all Ukrainian players… As a coach, in such a situation, I would think very carefully whether to take him or not. It’s a very unpleasant situation with Mudryk, but it’s an individual case and we shouldn’t think that all Ukrainian footballers can let you down. We shouldn’t brand all our guys with a stigma.
— You used to work in the structure of “Chelsea”, right?
— No. I was the director of Beacon Academy for three years, and representatives from “Chelsea” contacted me when Roman Abramovich was the club owner. He sent his authorized representative to me through his people, who came and asked: “Are you the Baltacha who played for Kyiv’s “Dynamo”?” — “Of course, who else?” — I replied (smiling). We had a partnership between me, Beacon Academy, and “Chelsea”, let’s say.
— Did you ever meet or communicate with Abramovich personally?
— There wasn’t such an opportunity. It didn’t come to that (smiling).
Viktor Glukhennyy
