Unai Melgosa: "Serbia is a strong team, and such matches are crucial for player development"

05.09.2024 11:00

On September 2, the Ukraine U-21 team, including players and coaching staff, gathered in the Latvian capital of Riga to commence their preparations for the upcoming EURO 2025 (U21) qualifiers.

The team will first face Serbia on September 6 at LNK Sporta Parks in Riga, with the match scheduled to kick off at 19:00 Kyiv time.

On September 10, they will travel to Ballymena for a match against Northern Ireland at Showgrounds Stadium, starting at 21:45 Kyiv time.

Ahead of these games, U-21 head coach Unai Melgosa answered the UAF press service questions:

— How will you motivate your players after a long break between U-21 matches?

— Yes, we had quite a long break between games. Our last match was against Azerbaijan. Everyone arrived with a great desire to play and represent the country. We will quickly try to immerse the players in the working atmosphere we aim to create.

— Are there any significant injury concerns in the team before the September matches?

— We have had some minor issues with a few players, but that's normal. They are just starting the season and need to adapt. At this stage, all teams have some issues.

Photo by Anatoliy Riepin

— Some players have had a busy summer with competitions. Could this affect them in terms of accumulated fatigue?

— Overall, it has been a challenging year for all Ukrainian teams. We have teams qualified for the U-17 and U-19 European Championships, the Olympics, and EURO 2024 in Germany. This is partly due to our hard work. It's not easy, but not all countries face these challenges. Fortunately, we do. From a satisfaction perspective, it's good that we participated in the Olympics. In terms of player fatigue, I believe we will manage.

— At the start of the season, players may be in varying physical conditions. Is this the case for your team?

— Yes, we are working with players who have started the season in different leagues. This is something national team coaches face. But we need to adapt to the situation the players are in and not look for excuses. We adapt to the physical state of the players and strive to achieve the best results.

— With upcoming matches against Serbia, Northern Ireland, and England, how will you and your team prepare?

— The preparation for these matches will not differ significantly from other training camps because it is a continuous process for the players. It doesn't end with this camp or previous ones. We have specific requirements, and we will work on them. But the most important thing is the continuity of the process for the players, their understanding of preparation, and the integration with the first team’s work. We aim to ensure players adapt quickly when transitioning to the first team. Therefore, we will stick to our plan without making major changes to the training process.

Photo by Anatoliy Riepin

— The U-21 team relies on players from the Ukrainian Premier League. Will there be more foreign-based players in the team soon?

— One of the key tasks for the Ukrainian Association of Football is to review all the players we have. It’s easier in Ukraine because we know them, but many players are abroad, and we make significant efforts to monitor them. It’s not easy. We follow foreign-based players, but getting into the national team is about how well you play, not where you play. We watch players of different ages, and new players may emerge at any time.

— After the match against Serbia, the Ukrainian team could secure at least a playoff spot. What should we expect from the opponent given the tournament situation?

— I think the opponent is strong. They will try their best to achieve the desired result. You never really know how the opponent will prepare, what they expect, or how they will react. Serbia is also planning to change some players. We need to focus on our work and the team's overall growth. This has been our focus with the U-21 team this year, and we need to continue. The past is behind us. Now we must focus on the present and continue to develop. If we work with the same attitude and desire to improve, we should achieve good results.

— What are your thoughts on the upcoming opponent, Serbia?

— Serbia is a strong team. Even though they have called up some new players for the matches against Ukraine, it is a very good team. I expect a strong opponent, and we need to be prepared for these matches. Such matches are crucial for player development.

Photo by Anatoliy Riepin

— How would you assess the performances of some of your players in the Olympic tournament?

— I think they performed well. I watched the matches at the Olympics in France and previous tournaments. They showed a high level of play. It was not easy because the overall level of teams at the Olympics was high. Some details affect the game. We shouldn’t only focus on the final result. It was a good experience for the players. They deserved to play at the Games after going through a tough qualification. Not all teams managed to do that. So I am satisfied.

— What is your general impression of the Ukrainian team’s performance in France?

— The same as before. The team performed well. It was a good experience for the players. It will help their further development. So I think it was a good tournament.

— How does the situation in the country affect the team’s preparation for the upcoming matches against Serbia, Northern Ireland, and England?

— There are some minor logistical issues affecting us. But as I said, I don’t like to talk about excuses or similar things. The players are here. We will train fully and work with the situation we have. This is what we have, and we need to handle it and adapt. It’s not a problem. It’s our reality.

— How is your cooperation with Ukraine’s head coach Serhiy Rebrov?

— We are in constant communication with Serhiy Rebrov and his coaching staff, discussing how we can improve processes, players, and so on. It’s an ongoing process. As I have said several times, it’s about rotation and growth. It concerns not only the first team but also the U-21 team.

— Have you called up all the players you planned?

— Yes, I have called up all the players I wanted. Sometimes we have minor issues or injuries that affect us, but everything is fine. The players who are here with the team are those who should be here at the moment.

Photo by Anatoliy Riepin

— How do you assess the progress of the players who joined the team after a long absence?

— There are different situations. I believe all the players are improving their performance, but it’s individual. Some players may have played more last year and less this year, and vice versa. We need them to quickly adapt to our requirements. We hope for not only good matches ahead but also a good training week.

— How do you monitor candidates for the national team?

— It’s not just me. It’s a task handled by many people, scouts. The UAF invests a lot to allow us to monitor players. It’s not easy, but we spend a lot of time watching matches. We sometimes watch live, sometimes on video. We try to get information from clubs and communicate with players. It’s a job you always have to do while working with the national team.

Ukraine U-21 Squad

Goalkeepers: Ruslan Neshcheret (Dynamo Kyiv), Kiril Fesyun (Shakhtar Donetsk), Yakiv Kinareykin (Karpaty Lviv).

Defenders: Arseniy Batagov (Trabzonspor, Turkey), Volodymyr Salyuk (Metalist 1925 Kharkiv), Roman Didyk, Vitaliy Roman (both Rukh Lviv), Taras Mykhavko, Kostyantyn Vivcharenko (both Dynamo Kyiv), Illia Krupskyi (Vorskla Poltava), Artem Smolyakov (Polissya Zhytomyr).

Midfielders: Ivan Varfolomeyev (Slovan, Czech Republic), Maksym Melnychenko, Oleh Ocheretko (both Karpaty Lviv), Valentyn Rubchynskyi, Nazar Voloshyn, Maksym Bragaru (all Dynamo Kyiv), Yehor Yarmolyuk (Brentford, England), Oleksandr Yatsyk (Zorya Luhansk), Oleh Fedor, Illia Kvasnytsia (both Rukh Lviv), Maksym Khlan (Lechia, Poland).

Forwards: Ihor Krasnopir (Rukh Lviv), Ihor Horbach (Zorya Luhansk).

Photo by Anatoliy Riepin

EURO 2025 (U-21) Qualifiers. Group F

September 7, 2023

Northern Ireland - Luxembourg - 0:1

September 11, 2023

Luxembourg - England - 0:3

September 12, 2023

Ukraine - Northern Ireland - 1:0

Serbia - Azerbaijan - 2:0

October 12, 2023

Azerbaijan - Northern Ireland - 0:1

Luxembourg - Ukraine - 0:3

England - Serbia - 9:1

October 16, 2023

Ukraine - England - 3:2

Northern Ireland - Serbia - 1:2

October 17, 2023

Azerbaijan - Luxembourg - 3:2

November 17, 2023

Ukraine - Luxembourg - 4:0

November 18, 2023

Serbia - England - 0:3

November 21, 2023

Ukraine - Azerbaijan - 1:0

Serbia - Luxembourg - 2:0

England - Northern Ireland - 3:0

March 23, 2024

Azerbaijan - England - 1:5

Luxembourg - Serbia - 1:1

March 26, 2024

Azerbaijan - Ukraine - 0:3

Serbia - Northern Ireland - 1:2

England - Luxembourg - 7:0

Standings

September 6, 2024

Luxembourg vs. Azerbaijan

Northern Ireland vs. England

Ukraine vs. Serbia

September 10, 2024

Northern Ireland vs. Ukraine

Azerbaijan vs. Serbia

October 11, 2024

England vs. Ukraine

October 12, 2024

Northern Ireland vs. Azerbaijan

October 15, 2024

Luxembourg vs. Northern Ireland

England vs. Azerbaijan

Serbia vs. Ukraine

Play-offs: November 11-19, 2024.

In the final stage of EURO 2025 (U-21), 16 teams will compete: Slovakia and 15 other national teams that will join based on the qualification results (nine group winners, three best teams among the second-place finishers, and three play-off winners among the six second-place finishers).