Serhiy Rebrov: "We've played in Poland, Germany, and Czechia — we feel the support everywhere"

06.09.2024 20:30

Ukraine's head coach, Serhiy Rebrov, held a press conference ahead of the UEFA Nations League 2024/2025 match against Albania.

— Why are there so few changes in the Ukraine squad? The only debutant is Vladyslav Kabaiev.

— If you watched the Euros, you’d know we had the tournament's youngest team. We must maintain the balance between experienced and young players. I believe in these players and this team. Trust me, there will be changes in the upcoming matches, and we’ll consider other candidates. For now, this is the squad, but we are continuously evaluating many players.

— What is the current injury situation within the team?

— Unfortunately, there are some injuries. Denys Popov didn’t join the squad, and Artem Dovbyk went back to his club for treatment. He won’t be ready even for the second game. There are also minor injuries, but we have time to assess them, and we’ll make a decision tomorrow.

— Why didn’t you call up additional players from the reserve list?

— Dovbyk came to the camp with some improvement, and we hoped he’d be ready at least for the second match. He only left for Rome yesterday. To call up players from the reserve list, we need to get travel permission, which isn’t easy right now. We didn’t have enough time, but I would have gladly called up players from the reserve list.

— Do you feel hospitality and support from Czechia?

— This is the second time we’re here for training and matches. We feel Czechia's support not only in words but also in actions. Their stance on the war in Ukraine is very important to us. We’re excited to play here in a few days against the Czech national team, and I’m sure the atmosphere in the stands will be fantastic.

— What kind of support are you expecting tomorrow, given that many Ukrainians live in Czechia?

— It’s been tough playing outside of Ukraine for more than two years without home support. Playing at home is a completely different feeling. I remember how much I enjoyed playing for my fans when I was younger. We’ve played in Poland, Germany, and now Czechia, and we feel the support everywhere — not just from Ukrainians abroad but also from others who stand with our country. We hope to see fans in the stadium tomorrow supporting us. But we are all also looking forward to the day when Ukraine wins this war, and the world celebrates our victory, with Ukrainian football returning home.

As a reminder, in September, Ukraine will play two matches in Group B1 of the UEFA Nations League 2024/2025 in Prague. On September 7, they will host Albania at Epet Arena, and on September 10, they will face Czechia at Eden Arena.