Andriy Pyatov: “Everything has changed in the national team, so there is a result. We are enjoying football now ... »

16.10.2019 11:00

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

Goalkeeper and captain of the national team of Ukraine Andriy Pyatov believes that the team is now enjoying the football he is showing.

Your impressions of win over Portugal (2: 1) Andriy Pyatov shared with journalists in the Euro-2020 qualifying tournament.

- Andrew, what is the key to the success of this team?

- In unity. Everything has changed in the national team, that's why there is a result. We now enjoy football. At first, maybe not everyone believed that the national team of Ukraine would be able to fulfill the task, but with our game and, accordingly, the result, we closed the question of the winner of the group in advance.

- There was an opinion that our team will not be able to be among the top until it beats one of these teams…

- We strive to be even stronger. Now the national team has secured the right to take part in the final part of the European Championship. I think, at least even from this, the rating of our team will improve. 

- Did a quick goal against the Portuguese help?

"Of course." Such balls always add confidence, especially in the competition with such an authoritative team as Portugal. Thus, we forced the opponent to open more, he had free zones in defense, which we managed to use when Andriy Yarmolenko scored the second goal.

- What emotions prevail when you win the current European champion?

- It's great, but I always take such situations calmly. There are still many matches ahead, in which the tension will be no less.

- Did the referee correctly award a penalty to our goal?

- Before the game, I jokingly told Stepanenko not to go out on the field, and once this referee removed Taras - in the last draw of the Europa League in a match against German "Eintracht". In my opinion, for this purpose do not appoint 11-meter and do not give a yellow card. Not to mention the first "mustard" ...

- Could you take a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo?

- It doesn't work out yet (laughs). If I'm not mistaken, he scored my third such goal.

- Did you manage to neutralize the leader of the Portuguese national team?

- If you do not take into account the goal from the penalty spot, then, I think, our guys did not allow Cristiano Ronaldo to do much. After all, we also study the enemy (smiles). We managed to close the zones well, sometimes even in the minority of the national team of Ukraine managed to control the ball. They could even score the third goal.

- Did the tension increase after the missed ball?

- Not without it. It needed to be rebuilt, so some confusion was present. But it doesn't matter anymore, because three points and a ticket to the final part of the Euro are in our pocket.