– Was there a story with a Rikun when he refused to replace with Stad De France in a match with France?
– Yes, it was. In the match with France, he says, “I will not go out for five minutes.” I: “Well, sit.”
– It seemed that you would never call him again. Then they said, “Everything, they put a cross on the river.”
– Why? He played. In Dnipro was a leading player. He was a unique frame. I knew he was drinking there. However, he did not see him drunk in the national team, although he sat in the bath the day before the game. The players are not sorted before the game. After training, we went into the bath. I look, he sits. I tell him, “Tomorrow is a game.” He is to me: “But nothing is wrong.”
– Did something out?
– Damn knows him (smiles). I don’t know.
– However, for the coach it is probably a blow when the player says, “I don’t go out for five minutes.”
– I once said Lobanovsky too, “I will not go out.”
– After such a demarche on the part of the player, some other coach is possible, it would be forever kicked out of the team …
– The team is not a club where you can easily replace a player. It is very difficult to do this in the national team. Even one person is difficult to replace. By whom? To throw a river, which can drink somewhere, but plays well? Probably, if he did not drink, he would be a very good football player. He was him.
– But Zotov, Checher and Zakarlyuk you kicked …
– Because they first got into the national team – and here are drunk. And the rikun did not have this that he is drunk. He was sitting in the bath. And I didn’t want to go to the field for 5 minutes. Maybe I wouldn’t go out for five minutes. And players who come to the national team are different. If you burn, then do it in your club, if you are allowed there.
Source: Sport.ua