Alexander PETRAKOV: “Do you really want to say that Yarmolenko is already old?”

Head coach of the Ukrainian national team Alexander Petrakov He commented on the Blue-Yellows heading to the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers after beating Scotland 3-1 in Glasgow.

What emotions are you experiencing right now? What do they mean to you?

– Now the feelings are gone, they stay on the football field. This victory means a lot to our country.

– It was expected that the Ukrainian team would make great efforts to win. However, many were surprised at how well you composed and played together. What can you say about this?

Thank you for appreciating our work. Football is a team game, these are my players who will do anything to win. We should thank them all. I think now all the people in our Motherland, all representatives of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who are in the trenches, barracks, hospitals, all our fans thank and applaud. Above all, this is a victory for the children.

– What would you like to wish the people who are currently fighting for the freedom of Ukraine?

We played for them today. Before entering the field, I told the children that we were playing football for ordinary people, for our country, for the fans, for the victims. We took a small step – we reached the final. Leading in the Wales game. I can say that we will do everything that depends on us. Today we made people happy. We are proud to be Ukrainians who glorified our country in difficult times.

I would like to thank Scotland very much for their hospitality. We were very well received here. I walked the streets of Glasgow, people came to wish me luck. My best wishes to their team and head coach Steve Clark.

– Are you satisfied with the physical condition of our men? Are you satisfied with the performance of Artem Dovbik, who scored a goal and missed two good opportunities?

“I don’t want to smash the game now. Those who deal with football, my coach friends will understand me. Now not before. I said I was happy with the way the guys played and we’d do the analysis later. Now I’m free, castrated. I’m sorry, but I’m not going to take the game apart now.

– Before the Wales game. Will there be enough time to prepare for this opponent?

“We are flying to Cardiff tomorrow at 11:30 according to our plans. We train in the evening in two groups. Then there will be training, preparation, the children will recover.

-I would like to hear a few words about our legend Andriy Yarmolenko, who scored his 45th goal for the Ukraine national team.

– Do you mean that he is already old (smiles)? It’s going well, young lad. It still has to play and play, move forward.

– Oleksandr Zinchenko was very emotional at the pre-match press conference. How did he manage to concentrate on the game to become one of the leaders of the team?

– Zinchenko is a very patriotic man, very worried, takes everything seriously. He is a friendly Ukrainian. All our men are like that. Some hold, some don’t. God forbid that such a grief should come to anyone’s land. You won’t know until it touches you and your family. We lost so many people – women, children. What Sasha said was sincere in the heart.