“Actually you’re lucky as I don’t have much time for interviews these days as I must keep reconditioning”, - starts Valeriy the conversation. By the way, Valeriy is really interesting company. Except for the interview he had his pictures taken for club media, so the meeting was quite long. Eventually Valeriy said: “It was like the second training session”.
- Valeriy, how’s your recovery process going? What does your everyday schedule look like?
- I start working on the pitch. As far as the main squad is at the training camp in Spain I’m getting accustomed to reserve team. Training session starts at 10 a.m. but before it I have warm-up at the gym. Then I work with the ball under the charge of physical trainer. After that I go back to the gym and spend there one more hour oh an hour and a half. Later I have rest and from 4 till 6-7 p.m. I also work at the gym.
- Do you follow reserve team training process?
- I try to do warm-up with the team. I’m a new person here, so everything looks interesting, but reconditioning takes a lot of energy. Anyway when I’m ready I’ll try to understand the game style of the team.
- Was the decision to sign a contract with Dynamo easy for you? Have you talked to Dynamo head coach?
- Of course when such clubs as Dynamo sign new players coach and president talk to them. I know what requirements there are here. At the moment my task is to recover completely. I’m sure I can benefit Dynamo.
- What does this club mean to you? Have you been supporting FC Dynamo Kyiv since childhood?
- Sure! When I was a kid I was at Ukraine national team World Cup qualification play-off against Germany at the NSC Olimpiyskyi. That game ended in 1:1 draw. I also remember Ukrainian youth league final stage at the NSC Olimpiyskyi. I even managed to score! Everyone supported Dynamo back then. I had no doubts signing the contract.
- Did you have football idols when a kid?
- Of course everyone was fond of Rebrov and Shevchenko. I also had Valentyn Belkevych shirt. I’m a midfielder so he’s always been my idol.
- What other positions you used to play on?
- It all depends upon coach’s vision. I’m a supporting midfielder, but I can perform on some other positions quite well. What I want is to benefit the team. In Kryvbas I used to play as right and left back. Sevydov used me as left back and even attacking midfielder. In Dnipro I was a supporting midfielder, so today it’s my favorite position.
- Claimants upon Dynamo position of supporting midfielder are Serhiy Rybalka, Radoslav Petrovic and Nikita Korzun. What do you think of such competitors?
- We’re all doing the same business, so I can’t call my teammates competitors. Besides I don’t know what my position will be so far. Today Serhiy Rybalka is usually Dynamo supporting midfielder. His play is impressive.
- What can you say about Dynamo style? Are you familiar with the role of playmaker without classic “#10”?
- Actually last season Myron Markevych used similar scheme in Dnipro. That means supporting midfielder must move a lot and start attacks. I have certain skills of the kind.
- Last summer you scored against Dynamo. What are your impressions of that game and of matches against Dynamo in general? Is it difficult to oppose Serhiy Rebrov’s men?
- Everyone wants to approve himself opposing Dynamo. In that match I thought we would salvage a draw, but we didn’t manage to. Of course I was happy to score.
Every Dynamo player knows what to do and performs his functions on the field. It’s difficult to oppose this team.
- What is the brightest moment in your career?
- Actually there were a lot of bright episodes. One of them happened when I was 20 and featured for FC Lviv.
Our first Ukrainian Premier League match was against Shakhtar. I scored spectacular goal from distance and we won.
- What are your emotions when you recall the Europa League final? You were substituted when the score was 2:2 and after that Sevilla netted the third goal…
- That final is also one of the brightest moments in my career. We felt we could win. The thing is we made some serious mistakes and were punished for that.
- Having a contract with Dnipro you featured for other teams on loan. What can you say about that experience?
- I think each event is experience that makes us more mature and wiser. Today I treat some things not the way I used to.
- You used to perform for Volyn under the charge of Vitaliy Kvartsianyi…
- He’s a very interesting person. He can get mad easily. Sometimes I responded him, but after training sessions I apologized. Once he told me: “You have a character, I need such players!” There can be no football without emotions. One must fight and die on the field in necessary.
- You’ve been called up to the national team several times. World Cup qualifications play-offs against France must be really memorable. What did our team lack to make decisive step?
- I guess players were a bit tired in return match. Maybe the team didn’t expect such progress from France comparing with the first leg.
- What do you think of your current horizons in the national team? Do you want to go to Euro-2016?
- Of course I do. When you work 24/7 you believe the best will happen to you. I must keep working. Chance can appear unexpectedly.
- How did you pick up your injury?
- We were getting ready for official game and had a training session. I struggled for the ball. There’s such player in Dnipro – Pico. His weight is about 90 kg. He fell on my knee. Thus I hurt crucial ligament. It was an accident…
- Then you had a surgery in Germany. What does recovery process look like today?
- After surgery I communicated with Serbian recreation therapist Andre, who works for Inter Milan. He has his own rehabilitation center in Belgrade. By the way, Andriy Yarmolenko and Yevhen Makarenko also were there. I spent there about two months.
Last week I returned to Ukraine. I keep following his program. Considering how serious my injury is I feel fine. I don’t feel any discomfort in my knee.
- Did Dnipro offer you new contract?
- Before leaving for Serbia I talked to Dnipro CEO Andriy Stetsenko. He knew my contract would expire soon. Still I didn’t get any offers.
- Your contract with Dynamo will be valid for half a year and it can be prolonged then. What do such terms mean to you? What are your aims?
- First of all I want to recover. I want to work with the team in April. If that happens I’ll have a chance to approve myself.
- Do you follow Dynamo training camp?
- Sure, I follow every sparring.
- What are your expectations of Dynamo matches against Manchester City?
- Considering my experience I can say Dynamo should be afraid of such serious opponent. The team should joust follow game plan as coach knows how to defeat any team. Players must unite to reach the goal. As for me, I think at the moment Dynamo and Manchester City have equal chances.
- Dynamo and Shakhtar have equal number of points in the UPL. What do you think about battle for gold?
- I think the battle will last till the final game. Both sides are willing to win the title. I think we’ll succeed!
- Do you have friends among Dynamo players?
- I performed for Ukraine youth team with some of them. I’m acquainted with Yevhen Makarenko as he also had rehabilitation in Serbia. When the team returns from Spain I’ll get acquainted with everyone.
- Do you have accounts in social networks? We’ve found your Vkontakte page and Instagram profile.
- I got it recently, but I’m not social networks fan. I don’t have time for that. When I have spare hour I can answer some messages.
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