Ukrainian defender of «Everton» Vitalii Mykolenko gave an interview to Viktor Vatsko in the program «Vatsko Live».
Vitalii Mykolenko— Great to see you! You’re always so sunny, smiling, instantly creating a positive mood. When they talk about the national team: «Oh, Mykolenko has arrived,» the atmosphere immediately changes for the better. Why be sad?
— I’m glad to see you too. Why be sad? Especially if you’re talking about the national team, it’s always fun there, always a pleasure to be there, and it’s always good positive emotions when I think about the national team. So I’m always smiling there.
— You’ve been living and playing in England for almost four years. Without two months. Is it your country, are you used to everything, adapted, settled?
— Probably, yes. This last year, when my daughter was born, I guess when I became a father, I rethought a lot of things. I have become a bit calmer about my profession. And probably more adapted to the team. I feel at home, I feel like I’m a part of the team’s core. So, I guess it’s time to say that I have definitely adapted.
— You’ve played three and a half seasons at «Everton» under number 19, and before this season, you changed it to 16. What’s special about the number 16 for you?
— I’ve never told anyone why I have the number 16. When I joined «Dynamo» at 11, there was this coach Viktor Yosypovych Kashey. I wanted the number 10, and I remembered this phrase. He said: «Vitalik, you shouldn’t chase numbers. You should play under whatever number you play, so that later everyone chases that number.» Well, I don’t have the task of having everyone chasing number 16, but I remembered that you have your number. Somehow I got used to this number 16 from the age of 11. Also, my Instagram was Mykola16, and I didn’t want to change it to 19.
— Two years ago, you said you couldn’t feel like a leader on the team because your English wasn’t good enough. How’s your English now?
— It’s at a level where I can make jokes. These are not very long sentences, but I can catch a joke in context, say something. I can talk about almost any topic in the locker room. I don’t like to shout there or encourage people. But what I hate most is arguing in English. It’s very hard to express my opinion in a negative tone. My conversational English is quite normal.
— You completely understand David Moyes, with his Scottish accent?
— It’s probably when you hear a person every day, you hear what he says, with what intonation, what words he uses. I understand him completely. And I wouldn’t say he has very difficult English.
— Were you surprised when you heard an interview with Moyes where he said that he considers you the strongest link in «Everton’s» defense?
— To be honest, Sasha Karavaev sent it to me, and I was surprised. I understand, it was an interview for our community, right? Maybe that’s why he said it, to support the Ukrainians a bit. Well, my subjective opinion doesn’t align with his words because I’m not sure I’m the best defender in recent years. There are really good defenders we have now and have had. But I think I’m one of the strong defenders in recent years.
— You play in the strongest league in the world. Who is your toughest one-on-one opponent?
— Savinho. Probably also Kudus. These are the players who, you know, when you lose, they outplay you, you take them down (laughs), you’re already on the ground, and they get up and keep running. Defenders will understand what I mean. When you take down, trying to get a red card but prevent the attack, and he gets up and keeps running. It’s the most unpleasant. In terms of effectiveness, it’s probably Saka and Salah.
— Next summer, your contract with «Everton» expires. How much does this fact occupy your thoughts?
— I don’t know where you read that (not wanting to enter negotiations). This isn’t completely false because we just haven’t talked about it yet. I know my agent will communicate with «Everton» representatives. I don’t even think about it because I play for this club, I like it. I’m enjoying it here. And that’s the most important thing. My family is comfortable living here.
— There have been rumors about interest from «Napoli» and «Inter,» offers of 30 million euros. Do you know anything about this?
— I know there were contacts with other clubs this summer, but it probably wasn’t «Napoli». As you can see, I’m in «Everton». I know «Everton» didn’t even consider this offer seriously. And I, in principle, didn’t consider it either. I continue to play and, I repeat, enjoy, and everything satisfies me.
— Your English level is high when you can joke. But Moyes said you need to improve your game in the final third. Why have you become less attacking at «Everton» than at «Dynamo»?
— You’ve looked up all the stats: how many goals «Dynamo» scored in 130 games and how many «Everton» scored. These are completely different clubs! Three seasons we were almost always in the relegation zone. And there, in the majority of games, it wasn’t about attacking. Here’s the explanation. When the current coach came, we, in my opinion, started playing more effectively and in good football.
— Do you agree with the coach about the need to add to the attack?
— I agree with the head coach that I need to improve in the final part a lot, because for three years I almost didn’t attack, and now I need to make a difference in attack. I need to give perfect passes, good passes, so we score goals. I’m completely working on that. I have many meetings with Leighton Baines about my attacking game.
— Going to the national team. Do you agree with the statement that the current generation is the strongest in the history of the Ukrainian national team?
— I think it’s not that it’s untruthful, but incorrect. It was said as an advance. And it wasn’t us who said it — neither the players nor the head coach. It was somehow artificially done. As Mudryk moved to «Chelsea,» a lot of players play in Europe — and at the moment we suddenly became the best generation. Even though the national team didn’t show superb results.
— You once said you disagree with 80% of the fan vote for the Lions of the Match. Then who are the «Lions» of the national team? Three key players without whom this team is impossible (you can’t include yourself). Let’s take those who were at the last meeting.
— Malinovskyi, Matviienko. That’s a hundred percent. And maybe Bushchan or Zabarnyi.
— Bushchan — a paradox. He has no match practice, but they say he is just top for the atmosphere.
— It’s important to find a balance. Not everyone will play in the national team. And people who come and don’t play, they complement the team with this spirit, this positivity. This is no less important. Andriy Yarmolenko repeatedly showed this. He’s the kind of person who could always say something in the locker room, could give everyone a bit of a scolding, and it always helped.
— Do you have the arithmetic in your head ahead of the decisive World Cup qualification matches? That a win over France might not help if you then lose to Iceland?
— It doesn’t matter to me, essentially. You come to the national team, you have two matches, you have to give everything. No matter the score. You have to fight until the last minute. The head coach said at the press conference: «Don’t be afraid to lose, be afraid of not doing enough to win.» I’m trying to follow those words.
— In your opinion, is this Ukrainian national team worthy of performing in the 2026 World Cup?
— Yes. Well, there will be 48 teams (laughs). Of course, worthy. But, if we don’t qualify, we’re not worthy to qualify. If we qualify, then we’re worthy. It’s very simple.
— What can you say about the level of the Ukrainian championship?
— Of course, the level has dropped. This is one hundred percent and only because of the war, because foreigners don’t come, football has become weaker. It’s very hard. But, God willing, when the war ends, it will quickly rise. Right now, it’s just very hard because of the logistics. You sleep on the train, while your opponent (for example, from «Crystal Palace») flies 2.5 hours by charter. It’s very hard.
— Who do you think will be the champion of Ukraine?
— (Laughs.) I’m a realist. If «Dynamo» will play aggressively and defend well, as against «Kryvbas,» then they will win the championship. They have a very strong, good team. «Shakhtar,» in my opinion, lacks the experience that «Dynamo» has. We’ll see.
Viktor Vatsko
