Renowned coach Yuriy Vernydub identified the best in the Ukrainian championship following the October matches in the 2025/2026 season.
Yuriy Vernydub— The best UPL team following the October matches?
— In my opinion, this title deserves «Polissya» because they went through October without defeats. Ruslan Rotan’s wards confidently handled «Poltava» (4:0) and «Obolon» (4:0) and had a draw with «Shakhtar». They played steadily last month.
— Disappointment team of October?
— Kyiv’s «Dynamo». The team of Oleksandr Shovkovsky clearly did not show the game or the results expected, losing victories twice in the final minutes (draws with the same score of 1:1 against Kharkiv’s «Metalist 1925» and Luhansk’s «Zorya» — ed.). What is the reason for Kyiv’s unsuccessful series? Only their coach can answer that question. But it’s obvious that they have lost the ease they had at the start of the season...
— Best coach of October?
— If we are to highlight someone, then it’s Ponomaryov. He currently has a good team, strong, but despite this, the attacking line players aren’t afraid to dribble, play one-on-one, and sharpen the game. It’s also visible that LN players are physically well prepared — and that’s thanks to the coach, who distributes the load correctly.
— Best UPL player following the October battles?
— Gleiker Mendoza (two goals and one assist for the reported month — ed.). He started in «Kryvbas», back when I worked in Kryvyi Rih. He has a backbone, character, and if he truly wants to showcase all his virtues on the field, he will continue to progress. I hope the period is over when Gleiker, so to say, took the matter a bit unprofessionally. Previously, he played, then didn’t, then feared, then didn’t. With the productivity he had in October (two goals in three matches), he has every chance to join a club higher in class than «Kryvbas».
— Best Ukrainian legionnaire of October?
— There’s now a lot of talk and writing about Sudakov, but I give the title of best legionnaire of October to Yarmolyuk. I admire his game. Yehor is progressing significantly. He is a professional in the truest sense, and he is the future of our national team.
— Is it possible to say that following October matches a so-called «winter champion» has already emerged? Currently, «Shakhtar» Donetsk is the leading contender for this title, having gone ahead.
— It’s too early to congratulate «Shakhtar» with the title of «winter champion», far too early. LN could become it, or «Polissya», and «Dynamo» should not be discounted either.
Viktor Glukhensky
