Andrii Pyatov: We are aware of the responsibility and understand that we must pass Sweden

27.06.2021 13:05

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

Players of the national team Andrii Pyatov and Anatolii Trubin took part in the press conference held today at the Ukrainian Media Center in Bucharest.

Here are the answers to Andrii Pyatov's questions.

- Sweden won their group and did not suffer a single defeat in XNUMX. Can they be considered as favorites of the EURO-2020 round of 16 match?

- This is already a decisive stage of the tournament, the teams are giving their all. On paper, someone may be the favorite, but on the field, everything is changing.

- Are you considering the possibility of penalty shootout and are you training penalties?

- Yes, we practice penalties in training, it is an integral part of football. We saw yesterday how Austria put up with Italy attacks in overtime. Probably, they also hoped for penalties, but eventually lost. It can also affect us.

- What is the atmosphere in the team, because perhaps the most important match is approaching'for many Ukraine players...

- There is always excitement, we understand what match awaits us, what chance fate has given us. We are aware of the responsibility and we understand that we have to pass Sweden. We have to show that we deserve this chance, otherwise the press can destroy us.

The coaching staff will prepare us properly, we trust them completely. I think everything will be fine.

- Who in our team are the best penalty takers?

- Let us not open all the cards. There are players who beat confidently, but you have different feelings in training. For example, in 2006 at the World Cup Andriy Shevchenko did not score his penalty against Switzerland. We have strong penalty takers, but I hope that we will not reach the shootout and win in regular time.

We are ready morally, psychologically and physically. I hope that the players we have will transfer our confidence to the game.

- Was there a frank conversation in the team after the match with Austria?

- Yes, it was when we were waiting for the results in other groups. The conversation turned out to be serious, not only I spoke, others also expressed their opinion. I will not tell details. I hope that we will confirm in the field the words that were said then.

- How do you work in the national team with goalkeeping coach Pedro Jaro?

- Pedro is really crazy - in a good sense of the word. In fact, it is very nice to work with him, he has a huge selection of drills. Jaro has his own vision of the training process, and he does not deviate from it. I come to the national team as a training camp, and then I feel much easier. I admire the work of this specialist.

- Are there any special exercises in Pedro Jaro's work?

- I know its general direction. There are three or four exercises that have a certain character, they are very helpful then in games.

- Who can you single out among the goalkeepers at Euro 2020?

- First of all, Heorhii Bushchan, because we are doing a common cause, we support each other. Many goalkeepers had a good tournament, but there were also those who made mistakes.

- In Glasgow, will you lack the support of Ukrainian fans that was in Bucharest?

- I am in favor of having as many fans as possible. There was not even a full stadium with Austria in Bucharest, but we felt support. If it weren't for the COVID-XNUMX restrictions, I think the stadium would be three-quarters full of our fans. I hope we do not disappoint them in Glasgow.