Andriy Shevchenko: “I will definitely be in the Champions League final, because I am an ambassador. I will train with the national team and come "

22.04.2018 13:05

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

The head coach of the national team of Ukraine said that the finals and the Champions League Cup are important for him.

Celebration of UEFA Champions League Cup events took place in Kyiv. The ceremony itself took place at Khreshchatyk, and one of its participants was ambassador of the Kiev finals Andrey Shevchenko.

— The Champions League finals are approaching, a solemn event has taken place. What emotions do you feel?

- Emotions are just wonderful. When you pass this cup, there are always warm, good and pleasant memories of it. I am glad that today we officially hand over the trophy to the City Hall. It is very nice that this cup will be held in almost all cities of Ukraine, and our football fans will be able to look at it and take pictures with it.

- The path of the trophy to Ukraine is just beginning. Can you invite people in other cities of the country to come and look at it?

- I don't just invite - I think that there are a lot of football fans in Ukraine, and the Champions League final is a responsible and important moment, so fans will come to look at the cup and take photos. This is a pleasant and unforgettable episode for the Ukrainian football community.

— Remember when you first saw the Champions Cup?

 - Of course. An unforgettable moment happened when we went to Old Trafford for the ceremony before the game. After passing the corridor, we turned right, and literally immediately I saw this prize in front of me. Almost every player had an interesting reaction, because everyone felt certain emotions just before the match, and here they also saw the cup. This is not forgotten.

— Do you support the tradition that you cannot touch a cup in such a situation?

- I touched. I would not say that there is any tradition. I touched myself, I know other players who did it. It is possible that the unspoken rules have changed over time.

- Who is the favorite of the semifinals of the Champions League? Which couple would you like to see in Kyiv?

- It's hard to say after the games that have already taken place. "Barcelona" took off, and "Roma" played an incredible match. It was hard to imagine such a comeback. Also unforgettable are the matches between Juventus and Real Madrid, the Italians had a chance… It is impossible to predict anything now. All the teams that got into the top four have strong teams, great players. Any of the participants in the semifinals can present a surprise. I hope to see good football worthy of this stage of the Champions League. 

- What was the best motivation for you before the Champions League matches?

- For me personally, it was a childhood dream - to become a professional footballer and win this tournament.

- Can you compare the emotions during the Champions League anthem, when it is played in the final and in other matches of the tournament?

- At such a moment you understand that this game is the last step to the trophy. Emotions overwhelm, it's a special feeling.

- Will you be in the finals, because the main team of the country will gather in May?

- I will definitely be at the game, because I am the ambassador of the final. Apparently, I will train with the national team and come. But the players I will call to the location of the team will not be able to attend the match, because we have two important meetings ahead, for which we need to properly prepare. They will stay in Kharkiv, where our training camp will take place, and watch the game on TV.

- In the final of the Cup of Ukraine the sixth "classic" awaits us. Did the fans not like these matches, or is it a plus?

- This is a classic match, the participants of which are worthy of the final. And what other solution can we expect, if not Shakhtar - Dynamo? This confrontation is a very good event for both the fans and the national team. We can also say that the intrigue persists in the championship. In the last rounds, anything can happen. Footballers must be in good shape, so the tension will continue until the last round.

Andriy Shevchenko: “I am very happy for our young generation of football players who will see the best players in the world with their own eyes”