Andriy Shevchenko: «We must not lose points for leaving the group»

24.03.2019 21:51

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

Head coach of the national team of Ukraine Andriy Shevchenko holds a press conference ahead of the qualifying tournament match UEFA EURO 2020 against Luxembourg.

- How did you prepare the team for Luxembourg physically and morally? Is Junior Moraes ready to play in the starting lineup?

- We will decide on the lineup on the day of the game. Today will be a preparatory training, let's see how the guys recover. We have losses - Marlos and Artem Kravets have minor injuries, so they went to Kyiv and are not preparing for tomorrow's game. Overall team feels fine. We will conduct another training as a test.

- In terms of motivation leadership team Luxembourg group matter?

- We always have high motivation. We understand that we must not lose points to leave the group. We went with such a mood to Portugal and Luxembourg. It is important to win tomorrow's match. But Luxembourg is a team that deserves respect. We watched her matches. Over the past few years, this team has been successful, she is able to play football.

- Do you plan to rotate performers after the match with Portugal?

- As I said, in the next selection match there will definitely be changes in the lineup. Our task is to optimally approach the game in terms of the physical shape of the players. In the match with Portugal players attack met a lot of work, so we must evaluate their condition. Those performers who will be in the best readiness will go on the field tomorrow.

- In Europe, they say that dwarfs are no longer in football. Do you agree with this position?

- Completely. I am very impressed by the teams, which, despite the lack of quality players, try to profess combination football, to play creatively. Luxembourg - one of these teams.

- Questions about the goalie position. Despite the confident game of Andriy Pyatov with Portugal, is there a chance to see Andriy Lunin in the starting lineup?

- I repeat, today we will have a training session, after which we will determine the lineup for the game. In our team, each player from the application can appear at the start.

- What is your game plan?

- I'm trying to prepare his players for the match. We need a victory - this is a plan for tomorrow's game. We have to show good football, be aggressive and dangerous. At the same time we respect our opponent.

- Do you remember his match against Luxembourg as a player of the national team of Ukraine?

- I remember playing after the injury in a friendly match on the eve of the 2006 World Cup. These are positive memories, because we performed well in the final part.