The head coach of the Ukraine national team, Oleksandr Petrakov, responded to questions from the UAF press service regarding a letter from FC "Dynamo" (Kyiv) concerning the called up players for the national team training camp ahead of the 2022 World Cup and Nations League matches.

— Oleksandre Vasylovych, UAF received a letter from Kyiv "Dynamo" stating that due to their charity match schedule, they will not be able to release 11 called-up players for the national team training camp on April 29. Instead, Dynamo assured that these players can join the national team's camp on May 23. How did you receive this message?

— I will be frank, I am shocked. Such a response was not expected. First of all, let me remind everyone if anyone forgot: in the current wartime situation, Ukrainian clubs are deprived of the opportunity to participate in official games, and only the national team is preparing for important international matches. What official matches is Dynamo preparing for and what FIFA regulations does it use to justify its refusal to provide players as called? There is a war going on in our country, all internal competitions have been suspended: FIFA regulations apply to official matches which are currently not happening due to the war. What interests is Kyiv's club pursuing now? I would like to add that UAF informed all our clubs about the planned camp starting April 29 as early as April 11. I do not recall Dynamo announcing a charity match schedule at that time.

— Did representatives of "Dynamo" contact you to find a compromise solution?

— No one called me or proposed anything. Some adjustments could have been made if I understood the club's plans. For example, Dario Srna from Donetsk "Shakhtar" approached me and asked for permission for his players to play a friendly match against "Gaiduk" on May 1, immediately after which they would join the national team camp. One or two days do not make much difference — so I agreed.

— When will the training camp start?

— Two days later. I canceled an earlier planned friendly match on May 2. The coaching staff, personnel, and some players of the national team will arrive at Slovenia's base in the evening of April 1st, and on April 2nd, the rest of the players will join us as we start our training process.

— What is the current match schedule for the national team that UEFA has been helping to arrange at your request?

— Earlier, we provided UEFA with criteria for finding friendly opponents in preparation for our matches. At this moment, the national team managers are concluding their search and negotiations with UEFA's relevant department, so we expect to know the names of our opponents soon. We are very grateful to UEFA for their help. Our first match will be on May 6, followed by games on May 10th and 14th, after which there will be two days off. On May 17th, foreign players will start joining us, and we will play two more friendlies — on the 22nd and 26th. For our final friendly match before playing Scotland, I expect all candidates to participate except for Oleksandr Zinchenko, whom I sincerely wish to take part in the Champions League final on May 28th. After that, Sasha will join us.

— If "Dynamo" indeed sticks to its position and does not release players for the camp starting April 29, what actions would you take? The president of Dynamo Kyiv, Igor Surkis, quoted his coach Mircea Lucescu who stated that «the playing potential of the performers will be used more rationally if they have match practice within a series of friendly charity matches against top European clubs»…

— There is nothing to comment on here. Only by gathering players who form the core of the team can we work out playing schemes and prepare for important official matches. How can a part of the players train separately from the national team, while their coach believes that they will be better prepared this way? I am sorry, but this is nonsense! As long as I am head coach of the national team, it's my responsibility to prepare them for games and results. Everything else — is misleading. Also: despite respect for Dynamo's friendly partners and their support for raising funds for Ukrainian army and people, they are not top European clubs, so let's not exaggerate! Clearly, Dynamo can play these matches without national team players as we have already seen them effectively using the factor of playing their loaned players in both teams during a friendly match with Benjamin Verbić. These are showcase games where the tournament factor is not primary.

— What main message would you like to send Dynamo now?

— First of all, I want to emphasize that this position of the club — is not an idea from the players: I am constantly in touch with them and know they are ready to come to the national team and defend Ukraine's colors. My message is simple: if there is a call-up for the national team — be in Slovenia on April 29th. To the club management, I would like to remind that temporary travel permits for football clubs abroad were issued by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine specifically because of preparing the national team for official games. Earlier, I thanked the clubs for this initiative and for providing players with match practice. But now we are gathering the national team together — so there is no need to invent non-existent reasons or put obstacles in the way during the preparation process of the main team. There is a war going on in our country, and there are no half-measures now. Everything must be clear: if you are called up for the national team — please report. If not — unfortunately, Dynamo will have to return to Ukraine while I will have to replace their players with others.

— Are you already looking for alternative candidates for the national team?

— The situation forces me. Generally, I am always in touch with head coaches of Ukrainian clubs who support and help us. I would like to especially thank Leonid Kuchuk from "Ruh" as well as club officials — the president of Lviv's club Hryhoriy Kozlovskyi, executive director of SK "Dnipro-1" Andriy Rusol, and football director of FC "Shakhtar" Dario Srna for their help in finding players. If it becomes necessary to supplement the team, I plan to do so with both young national team players and more experienced players from Ukrainian championships and abroad. As you know, many players are on the radar of our coaching staff, and now they have a chance to become part of the future national team. However, there will be one additional nuance: we had already arranged British visas for a large group of players in advance to facilitate selection during preparation. Now new candidates to the national team will need to open these visas as well. But we will do this if necessary.

— So, talking about forced supplementation of the national team, can we expect an additional list of called-up players?

— Yes, I have already compiled it. I am waiting for a clear position from Dynamo to understand whether to publish a new list of Ukrainian national team players or not.

— How do you feel in the situation where you have an opportunity to return to training and playing processes, but at the same time face additional football-related nuances?

— Of course, during wartime there are enough negative emotions anyway, so this does not add optimism. I am a head coach whose job is to train, not deal with off-field issues. But despite everything, I never give up — that's my life motto.

Oleksandr Hlyvinskyi, press secretary of the national team