- How was your vacation?
- It was rather short as I featured for my national team in early June. After that I went to Ibiza with my friends for a week and later – to Wien.
- What are your impressions of two friendlies for the national tem?
- It’s always difficult to perform late in the season when players think about vacation and there are still two international games to be played.Anyway it doesn’t matter when you play for your national team. I’m always happy to do that as Austria is my native land, I was born here.
- Do you follow the World Cup?
- Sure, I do. It would have been weird for football player not to follow such tournament. Current contest is exciting. I think that not only weather conditions, but also referees’ mistakes, like red card for Italian player, prevent some European teams from reaching the round of 16. Anyway I think four or five sides will struggle for the trophy.
- You must be supporting Germany?
- (smiling) Not at all.At this tournament I support Brazil. I hope that they’ll win the Mundial. I don’t support Germany as there’s always some rivalry between this country and Austria.
- What could Austria have achieved in case the team qualified for the World Cup?
- We were very close to this aim as we conceded against Sweden only four minutes before the time. We would have performed in playoffs against Portugal but for that goal.
It’s difficult to say what we could achieve in the finals. Our team is young. Anyway the head coach Marcel Koller has signed new contract with football federation and I hope the next qualifying campaign will be a success for us.
- How did your teammates receive you after vacation? Was Yevhen Makarenko mocking you during your first training session?
- It’s a pleasure that teammates are glad to see me. They are very friendly. The triumph in the Ukrainian Cup unified the team.
These days I have to work hard not to lack behind other players. That’s why such jokes like Yevhen’s help me to take mind off things. Of course I’ll also have a joke for him. Anyway friendly atmosphere is very important.
- Is Serhiy Rebrov the coach, who’s managed to unify players and to lift their spirit?
- Oleh Blokhin also was a successful coach, who has achieved a lot. The main difference between him and Rebrov is that the latter lets us play football more. His assistant Raul also does a big amount of work. He makes training sessions exciting, interesting.
- Did you get a kind of “homework” for vacation from the coaching staff?
- Every player gets a program of individual work. I tried to fulfill it as I realized that it was necessary to get ready for the training camp.
- The training camp takes place in your native country. Does it make things easier for you?
- We are in Austria, but far from Wien where I was born. Anyway this hotel is great and landscape is fascinating.
We have ideal conditions to get ready for the season in general and for Ukrainian Super Cup that will take place in several weeks.
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