Oleksandr Petrakov: We have a very important match in Helsinki ahead of us. We can't draw there anymore

09.09.2021 01:38

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

V. o. head coach of the national team of Ukraine Oleksandr Petrakov held a press conference after a friendly match with the Czech team - 1:1.

- It became known that the player of the national team of Kazakhstan Ruslan Valiullin, who scored two goals for Ukraine in the match on September 1, passed a positive doping test. How do you feel about such information?

- I have a negative attitude. I do not do these things. We drew there, lost two important points. I'm not used to building my happiness on someone else's mountain.

- Today, three debutants played in defense at once. Was it a certain risk, or were you confident in your guys?

 - First of all, I know them all well, only the Orphan is worse. There was a very big risk, I was worried. Kryvtsov's replacement was forced - he complained of injuries during the break. I knew that Sable could help in this position. He agreed to leave. In general, I'm not afraid to take risks.

- You were very close to victory, but in the end there was a draw again. What are your emotions after the game?

- What can be the emotions? This happened in Kazakhstan, now as well ... We need to understand why we can't hold out until the end. Talked to the guys after the match, I was a little emotional. We have a very important match ahead in Helsinki. One mistake - that's all. You can't draw there anymore. I really wanted to win, but 20 seconds was not enough. It is necessary to look who didn't insure when beat from the central zone.

Emotions are negative. We played with a participant in the quarterfinals of the European Championship. After the match with Belgium against us in the Czech Republic, the main team came out. I did a rotation. But we need to forget and move on.

- Can you comment on the debutants' game?

- I congratulated the guys on their debut. I think they played well, did not fail. It is difficult to make a debut in the national team.

- Why did you give a chance to Boyko and not to Riznik?

- I have assistants. I talked to them, in particular, with the goalkeeping coach. Gave a chance to play Boyko. I invited Denis to the national team when we had three goalkeepers. He responded, arrived. My assistants and I decided to let him play. He played well. And Riznyk will make his debut a little later. He understands everything.

- Have you already decided on the composition of the national team for the October matches?

- The boys will play for another month. Ahead of the Champions League, so many matches. How can I decide? These are injuries and anything. Now the list of players has become a little bigger than before. There will be very strong competition. It cannot be that there is only one player per position. Many newcomers, let them play.

Now I can't say what will happen in a month. We will gather on October 3-4, we will have a few days to prepare. This is good because we are playing on the 9th. After the match in Helsinki we immediately fly to Lviv. In Finland, we are satisfied only with the victory.

- Why did you leave the scheme with three central defenders after replacing Kryvtsov with Sobol?

- I play according to this scheme. I put Sable, he played well.

- This is your first period of work with the national team. How do you rate it?

- It was very difficult. The result is average. But it seems to me that I am already in this team.