Oleksandr Petrakov: “The guys in the theoretical classes were very attentive, for which I am grateful to them. They did everything we asked for. "

09.10.2021 23:18

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

Acting head coach of the national team of Ukraine Oleksandr Petrakov held a press conference after the match with the team of Finland.

- There was so much pressure on you the day before… How much calmer is it now? As for the game, did we have to win with a bigger score?

- Very difficult game. My condition was serious, now a little easier. I didn't think about the score, because in the last matches we scored in the last minutes. Today the referee added six minutes, they lasted so long. I thought, "God, when will this end?" As for the score, the most important thing is three points.

- After the match, it seemed that Yarmolenko had an injury. Does he have a serious injury?

- I think not. Always in such situations, the doctor says that we will know in the morning. But Andriy is a fighter, an experienced football player. I think everything will be fine.

- Was it a surprise for you that Finland defended itself so actively? How did you react to this situation?

- We watched many matches of the Finnish team. Watched how the Finns played away against France. They also pressed there at the very beginning of the meeting. We disassembled and knew everything. We did a lot of theoretical classes with the guys, so it was no surprise to me.

- It seemed that the Finns were not ready for such pressure in the center of the field ...

- I repeat, my assistants and I watched many games of the Finnish national team. The guys in the theoretical classes were very attentive, for which I am grateful to them. They did everything we asked.

- Why did you replace Sable during the break?

- I think he will be fine. He reported pain ... We have an equivalent replacement. Kornienko came out and did not spoil the porridge.

- What mistakes will you work on in the future?

- Let's play with Bosnia and Herzegovina first. I live the next game. After it I will think what to do and how to live.

- It seemed that six added minutes were harder for you than two halves. How did you feel at that time?

- It is difficult for me to convey this specificity. Six minutes lasted a very, very long time. Waiting for the whistle, it sounded, there was joy. It's hard to explain, it's football ... It's better not to let anyone know what the coach is going through at such moments.

- What will be the team's schedule for the coming days?

- Now we have a flight to Lviv. We will come, we will get some sleep, somewhere at 12-13 we will go to dinner. In the evening we will have training in two groups.