FC Dynamo Kyiv president Ihor Surkis has told FootballHub about the league title, the future of Vanat, new contract of Yarmolenko and other aspects of club life:
- Can you please tell about the new contract with Andrii Yarmolenko? How difficult were the negotiations?
- Those were very simple as I talked to Andrii two months ago about that. I hoped he would play another season for Dynamo or even more.
I came to the training ground to talk to the head coach Oleksandr Shovkovskyi. First, I talked to Andrii himself and then I asked the coach whether the team needs Yarmolenko for the next season, because without the coach I can’t make such decisions, it is very responsible. Shovkovskyi said Yarmolenko is not just necessary, but must stay in the team, because he has great motivation.
I can tell you that Yarmolenko enthusiastically accepted my offer to sign a contract for another year. Although, perhaps, he would’ve helped me in the position of sports director. It would’ve been easier for me. There are problems, in particular, in the selection work, we understand all this. Only professionals should deal with this.
But we need Andriy on the field. Our task is to get to the main stage of the Champions League, and we will do everything for this. We’ll try to strengthen the team. In addition, we have very talented youth, we see this in the example of the guys who play for Dynamo. As I said, now 95% of the team are our trainees. Dubinchak, Vivcharenko, Brazhko, Vanat, Mykhailenko, Shaparenko, Popov, Bilovar, Diachuk. It’s easier to say who’s not our trainee than to list everyone. Maybe I forgot someone, let them not be offended.
- Can you briefly summarize this season?
- Euro cups were a failure, but we put all efforts into victory in the UPL. All the actions and efforts that we made during this season were agreed with me by Oleksandr Shovkovskyi. At the same time, I can’t say that we intentionally failed the euro cups, because they are of great importance to us. In European matches, players can show themselves from the best side, it’s advertising for them. We must understand that not everyone in Europe sees the Ukrainian league. And the guys want and dream of playing in Europe. Therefore, it’s very important, and next season we’ll do everything possible to perform better. But, I repeat, this season league title was the priority.
As for the Ukrainian Cup, guys did their best to win it, but penalty shootout is a lottery. I don’t have any complaints about the guys.
- Do you negotiate with Karavayev on the extension of his contract?
- We’ll make a decision with Karavayev in the coming days. As they say, the ball is in his court. He’s received an offer. All the guys I talked to extended their contracts: Buialskyi, Yarmolenko.
- Which positions are you going to strengthen in summer?
- I hope there will be some enforcement. I talk to Oleksandr Shovkovskyi. We need a center back. Besides, we want a left halfback and a forward.
- Is it true that a Turkish club is interested in signing Vanat. Have you received an offer?
- We haven’t received any offers yet. If there’s any, we’ll consider those as they do in civilized world.
- What do you think of Angel Torres?
- We count on him. The head coach wanted to sign him. We need to get him ready so that he could benefit Dynamo.
