– Ruslan, welcome the victory. Two duels, three goals, productive transmission. Is this perhaps the most successful your arrival in the national team in history?
– Thank you. If such figures, then probably yes. But you do not want to fly nowhere, because there are two more games. You will need to score at least two points. It is very nice that he scored, and for Alexei is very glad. He worked very well – it was visible both in training and in games. He has very cool qualities, a cool left leg, and he plays his head very well. Today he scored and gave his head. I congratulate all Ukrainians, all fans with this victory.
– How did you feel this team? You weren’t a year. Maybe something has changed?
– There were some young players who received the first challenges … Of course, some boys are not enough: Yaremchuk, Zubkov, Zinchenko, Tsiganko. Those guys who were before. Of course, I am very pleased to see everyone: Mykolenko, Shaparenko, Bushan, Zabarny, Matvienko. All the guys with whom we have been very many years. We always had a wonderful atmosphere. I know they go out and give 100% on the field.
– According to the expectations of the match with Iceland, it should be more complicated, and it looked the opposite. Why did Azerbaijan seem more complicated with Azerbaijan?
– If in the first half they scored the second ball, maybe they would score both the third and the fourth. Of course, there is pressure, responsibility. Maybe they were a little in some situations, wanted to score a fast ball, the second ball, the third. Maybe it has played such an unpleasant joke with us. I say that the most important thing is victory. You also see that Iceland also played with France 2: 2. Not many moments were created, but they scored two goals of France. Football is this: episodes decide.
– There was a lot of criticism against the national team during the September collection. What is the psychological mood now after two victories in a row?
– I did not read criticism, I did not see. The results were, of course, larger … that with Azerbaijan they played 1: 1. As I said, episodes decide, so you need to make an analysis of mistakes and prepare for the final matches. Because we won two games and everything ahead. The group stage is not one, not two games where you can: won or lost. Here is a long way in which we should be concentrated and play to the end.
– Two victories over France and Iceland are real?
– You know, ask bookmakers. I kidding, of course, but it’s like “real”? Everything is really in football, but you need to prepare for France first, then the next match will already be.
Video review of the match Ukraine – Azerbaijan (2: 1)
Source: Sport.ua