Serhiy Rebrov: "It's crucial for us to give opportunities to players who stand out in the national championship"

10.10.2024 15:54

Ahead of the UEFA Nations League 2024/2025 match against Georgia, Ukraine's head coach Serрiy Rebrov held a press conference.

— Why did you not call up Yehor Yarmolyuk to the national team?

— We are monitoring him. He is helping the U-21 team and was called up there. Currently, we’ve invited more players representing the national championship. This is their opportunity, and I’m confident they will make the most of it.

— Why wasn't Andriy Yarmolenko included in the initial squad for Ukraine? Did you speak to him or warn him that he might not be called up to the main squad?

— Andriy wasn’t called up because, in my opinion, there is strong competition among players from the national championship. We view the Nations League as an opportunity to assess candidates for the national team. I spoke with him and explained my position. He’s a special player for the national team. We must give opportunities to candidates who stand out in the domestic championship.

— Due to several injuries, you had to call up additional players. What criteria did you use, and what qualities can they bring?

— It’s very important for us to have competition in every position. If someone gets injured, we try to find replacements from the candidate pool or the reserve list. We need at least two players per position. I believe that both the original and additional call-ups truly deserve to be here. There are many new faces, but I don’t see them struggling in training. What’s important is how they perform in matches. We’re giving all the players a chance.

— Do you see tomorrow's match against Georgia as the last chance to deliver results in the Nations League?

— We’ve lost our first two games, so, of course, we need to show a different level and belief in the result. The Nations League has replaced friendlies, where coaches used to assess candidates more freely. Now, these are official matches, and players understand that every game at this level is a major event for our country. In the next two matches, it’s not just about results but also about desire, determination, and how we play for our country. For me, the Nations League is primarily preparation for the qualification stage. However, it also offers a chance to reach the World Cup playoffs.

I can’t say we didn’t want to win the previous two games. If we recall the match against Czechia, we took 20 shots on goal, not just controlled possession. Teams at EURO tournaments often shoot 15-16 times and win. Unfortunately, we lost, but we were trying to win. Yes, we’ve lost two matches, but we’re looking ahead, and of course, tomorrow, we’ll aim to win and show our quality.

— You know Lasha Dvali well, having coached him. What’s your view of him as a player?

— Of course, I know him very well. When I coached him, he was honest, open, and professional. I’ll be happy to see him tomorrow. I haven’t followed his club performances closely, but he’s showing good form in the national team. I respect him, as well as the Georgian team.

As a reminder, Serhiy Rebrov's team will play two home matches in Group B1 of the UEFA Nations League 2024/2025 in Poland this October. On October 11, the Blue and Yellows will face Georgia in Poznań at Enea Stadion for Matchday 3, and on October 14, they will take on Czechia in Wrocław at Tarczyński Arena for Matchday 4.