Kryvyi Rih Kryvbas has undergone a significant update last summer. The club ended the three -year era of Yuri Vernidub, replaced by Patrick Van Leuven and after defeat on the starting round from the Colossus (1: 2), the team began to take shape: in the following three matches Kryvbas took 9 points, alternately overwhelming metalist 1925 (2: 2: 0).

One of the players who played all these matches was the Croatian defender of the Kryvyi Rih Club Jan Yurchets. In an interview with Football.ua, he spoke about preparation for the 5th round with the Polesie, his impressions of the current championship, the war in Ukraine and its impact on football, as well as the experience of working with the outstanding German football player Miroslav Klose.

“Permanent Game Practice Motivizes Me Even more” – Yana, behind the pause in international matches. How did you spend this time personally, did you manage to recover?

– Yes, we had four weekends, and many foreign players who live closer to Ukraine went home or traveled. I also used this time – I went home a little in Zagreb, and also spent several days with a girl in Budapest. The vacation was very appropriate to take a short time from football, training and matches, and recharged before a busy schedule that awaits us.

– While you played all the matches for Kryvbas this season. Satisfied with a game tone?

– Yes, very glad that he was able to participate in all the matches this season. It gives me special confidence, because it means that I have prepared well and work qualitatively in training. It motivates me to work even more. In the last five matches, we won four victories and suffered one defeat – three victories in the League and one in the Cup. The first game lost the ear, but then showed one hundred percent result. For me, the team is always in the first place, but personally managed to score two assists – one in UPL and one in the cup. I feel better than playing to play and I believe that my shape will still grow.

– Ahead of the Polesie match, a rather ambitious club that represented Ukraine in the conference league. What do you know about this team now?

– Polesie is an ambitious and relatively young club, which has many quality players. The fact that they represented Ukraine in the European Cups this year says a lot about the club and their ambitions.

– The last match of the last championship you played just against Polesie. Dimination 1: 1 was a natural result then?

– Unfortunately, we could not win at the time – if it had succeeded, we would play the qualification of the conference League, not they. I think in the first half we were the best, in the second – they were. So the final result was probably fair.

– Despite the difficult conditions in which the Kryvyi Rih lives, people come to the stadium and support the team. Do you realize that Kryvbas matches for a local audience are a little more than just football?

– Yes, I really want to thank all our fans who come to the stadium in large numbers, even at visiting matches. They are our 12th player. It is very important for us, players, to feel support from the stands. It is very nice to see many families with young children in the stands – in these difficult times, their smiles and joy are inspired after victories. I hope they continue to support us.

-Croatia in the late 1980s and early 1990s also lived in a war. Have your parents or relatives told you about that period?

-Yes, in the 1990s, the former Yugoslavia broke up, and in Croatia the war began-a very difficult period for my country. The war lasted from 1991 to 1995. I have not been born yet, but I know many people who lived then. All the stories I have heard are mostly sad. I would not like to happen again in any country. War is the worst that can be in the world, and I sincerely hope that the war in Ukraine will end as soon as possible.

– Which of the Croatian football players is the greatest authority for you?

– If you need to choose one – it is no doubt, Luke Modric. The owner of the Golden Ball, the legend of Real and Croatia. His path was very difficult, and for every Croatian football player he is an example of how through work and perseverance you can achieve everything.

“Close played with us in football and was the best” – At the Austrian Rayndolf Altta Club, you worked with Miroslav Klose. How did you remember?

– Yes, I worked with him when he played in Austria. He is a legend of world football, the best scorer of the World Cups and the German national team. A very good person who has greatly influenced my career. Thanks to him, I became the best player and the best person. I am very grateful to him and wish him success in his current club – FC Nuremberg.

– I recall that Klose celebrated his goals with the help of a flip. Did one of your partners ask for such tricks to teach him?

– Unfortunately, he did not teach anyone to do a flip (laughs – note.). But sometimes he played with us in football during training – and was the best. The class is a class, as they say :).

– Patrick Van Leuven, your current head coach, known for discipline and requires physical endurance of the team. Are you used to these requirements?

– Yes, the coach requires discipline and diligent work. And I think that we need it, because we are the second youngest team in the League. Personally, it was easy for me to adapt to this style, because my previous coach, Miroslav Klose, adhered to the same principles. It was a great adventure, and we will continue to follow the discipline and listen to the coach’s instructions.

– Kryvbas now has many Latin American legionnaires. Why did you already have time to learn from them?

– Now we really have many players from South America. I played with many legionnaires in Austria, so it’s not new to me. The atmosphere in the locker room is wonderful – all motivated, work for the maximum. From them, I learned that they were strong in nature and temperament. Everyone adapted well. We really get along well, we laugh a lot in the locker room. And yet – we constantly play Spanish music (laughs – note.).