Tomorrow, on June 14th, the national team of Ukraine will play against Ireland in Łódź, Poland, within the Nations League. A press conference took place yesterday, during which defender Vitalii Mykolenko participated alongside head coach Oleksandr Petrakov.

— Have you accumulated any emotional fatigue?

— I've been thinking about these matches and will say this: I can't equate playing for the national team with anything else. I came here to play for my country, for my people, for those who watch us and support us at the stadium or in front of their TVs. So, in my opinion, these are different things.

— What messages did you receive from teammates at Everton after scoring your first goal for the national team? How do you feel about the club's support during such difficult times?

— I received a message from our second coach, Joe Edwards, and Nathan Patterson from Scotland's national team. No one else wrote to me. Of course, this support is incredible. I saw on the Internet that the club president invited Kyiv's Dynamo to play. I would like to thank all the countries where we played — Poland, Scotland, Wales, Ireland. All people together with Ukraine, thank you for your support.

— Have you prepared any celebration for the next goal?

— I haven't prepared anything. For me, the main thing is to help the team. If I score, then I don't think about a celebration. The most important thing is that I scored and then celebrated with my teammates and coaching staff.

— Tomorrow will mark the end of a long and exhausting period for national team players. What emotions are you approaching the match against Ireland with?

— The emotions are positive. When you win, you recover faster. Moreover, in the last game I didn't play much. As for the boys, I see that they don't have a vacation mood at all. We will prepare for tomorrow's match to one hundred percent.

— The current situation in Ukraine and at Everton — perhaps the most important period of your life. How are you coping, how do you feel?

— I'm feeling well, but if we were playing in Ukraine, it would be much better. When the war started, I thought that earlier some problems seemed grandiose. But since the beginning of the war, I focused on football and the team, understood that things aren't as bad in England and at Everton. You need to come out and prove that you can play and that we can win.

— How did Everton captain Seamus Coleman help you after your move to England?

— I'll tell one story. I arrived in England on December 31st, had my first meeting. For Ukrainians, New Year is a big holiday. But I was alone in the hotel that night. On New Year's Eve, Coleman wrote to me: "I know how hard it is for you, but I'll always help you as long as we're both at the club. You can always count on my support." He has helped me throughout this time. Seamus is a great person and a great captain.

— Are your family and friends still in Ukraine? How are they?

— My parents are currently in Kyiv, thank God, everything is fine. I always maintain contact with them. My friends and godchildren are scattered around the country. It's not always possible to keep in touch. They're more or less safe, I hope it will continue like this.