Grozny: This year Petrakov and the national team have changed the conditions for achieving the result drastically, no one has been in such a situation

Famous Ukrainian coach Vyacheslav Grozny in an exclusive interview with Sport Arena, he assessed the period of work with the Ukrainian national team Oleksandr Petrakov, and also responded to criticism of the current coach of the country’s main team.

— Vyacheslav Viktorovich, how do you generally assess the work of Oleksandr Petrakov with the Ukrainian national team since his appointment as head coach of the national team?

– Oleksandr Petrakov since July 2011 led the Ukrainian national team (U-17) and then coached youth national teams (U-16, U-17, U-18, U-19 and U-20) for 10 years. With the Ukrainian team (U-20) he won gold medals at the World Championship. Therefore, it was natural for the Football Association of Ukraine to appoint him to the position of head coach of the main national team of the country in August 2021 after the end of the European Championship.

Of course, any national team coach is given maximum tasks, which always corresponds to our ambitions. The main goals of the national team were to reach the World Cup in Qatar, as well as win their group and move to the elite division of the League of Nations.

In March 2021, as part of the World Cup selection, the Ukrainian team played draws with Kazakhstan, Finland and France. But then in September 2021, the Ukrainian team, already under the leadership of Petrakov, continued to play in draws. We played with Kazakhstan 2:2, winning twice during the match. We also played well with France: Shaparenko scored a beautiful goal for Ukraine, and the French equalized the score. As a result, that meeting ended with the score 1:1. Then there was a draw in sparring with the Czech Republic (1:1). Again, then Kornienko opened the scoring in the first half.

There were three decisive matches in the group, and the team played them worthily. Ukraine beat Finland (2:1) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (2:0) away. Also with the Bosnians was a home draw 1:1. As a result, the Ukrainians became the second in the group after the French world champions. At the same time, Ukraine scored in all eight matches and never lost. True, the Ukrainians were too peaceful, drawing six times and winning twice. It is worth noting that Ukraine won these two victories at the finish of the selection, which speaks of the nature of our team.

— How would you rate the preparation for the World Cup qualifier play-offs and the winning match against Scotland?

— The results of the draw for the play-offs of the World Cup qualification gave us all justified optimism. For example, I had no doubt that we would be at the World Championships.

By the way, according to the results of the draw, Italy and Portugal were in the same four and, therefore, it was known in advance that only one of these top teams would go to the World Cup. But, in my opinion, it makes sense for European and world football officials to make certain adjustments. In my opinion, the European champion and the world champion should automatically take part in the Euro and World Cup. The same European champions, the Italians, were supposed to automatically get to the World Cup.

But let’s talk about our team. In the semi-finals of our World Cup play-off four in March, Wales beat Austria 2-1. And we were supposed to play away with Scotland. But in Ukraine at that time there was a war after the Kremlin rashists vilely attacked our country on the night of February 24. Of course, then there was no question of any football. The championship of Ukraine was not completed.

The match with the Scots took place on 1 June. Now imagine how you had to prepare for this game. No coaching staff has ever been in such a situation. When matches were played during the war, and the championship was suspended. Of course, those who play abroad had playing practice. And the rest, which, of course, the majority, as part of their teams could only take part in sparring of their teams abroad. So, of course, there were difficulties. There were certain moments and nuances. It was difficult to agree and make a common decision.

But the Ukrainian national team, almost without players who play abroad, managed to play three sparring matches in May, in which Borussia and Empoli were beaten (3:1), and there was also a 1:1 draw with Rijeka. And then the team again scored in all matches. As a result, Ukraine approached the June matches very worthily. Our team outplayed Scotland in all respects (3:1).

– The Scots managed to get through, so it seemed that they would also be able to overcome the barrier in the form of the Welsh. After all, what did the Ukrainian national team lack in order to break into the World Cup through the sieve of the playoffs of qualification?

– We beat the Wales team in all respects. Judge for yourself! How many shots did Ukraine make on the Welsh goal (22 vs. 10, and on shots on target 9 vs. 4). The possession of the ball by the Ukrainian team was 68%. There were also 84% accurate passes. We had three scoring chances, Wales had one. But, alas, sometimes it happens. Wales won this meeting thanks to one goal. You can also talk about an unassigned penalty against the Welsh, but that’s history. We really deserved to play at the World Cup in Qatar. We were better in these two matches. But, unfortunately, Wales, not Ukraine, will play in the same group with England, the USA and Iran. Although Ukrainians should have been in place of the Welsh.

– If Ukraine managed to defeat the Welsh, would questions about replacing Petrakov with another specialist be raised in the media?

– If Ukraine got to the World Cup, the rhetoric of very many of those who today actively criticize the national team and Petrakov personally would be completely different, demanding immediate changes. These same people, with a positive outcome of the game with Wales, would enthusiastically sing praises to everyone. It is a pity that in sports there is very often one step from love to hate.

Yes, in fact, unfortunately, the main task of getting to the World Championships was not solved due to very serious objective circumstances. But just a few days after the match with Wales, we in our Nations League group beat Ireland (1:0) and drew with them 1:1, and also defeated Armenia (3:0). By the way, all the matches took place in two days on the third, which is very difficult. And before the September matches, we were the leaders of the League of Nations group. We had two matches to play with Scotland and one with Armenia. Again had to play three matches in a week. The most difficult cycle and flights again awaited the national team.

— By the way, how would you rate the results and performance of the Ukrainian national team in the September matches of the League of Nations?

– The only match in which the opponent looked fresher, faster, more aggressive, more active and defeated Ukraine on business was the away match with Scotland, which won 3-0. Our team conceded two goals from set pieces. For various reasons, a whole group of players was absent from the team. First of all, these are Zabarny and Mikolenko. Maybe if they had played, we wouldn’t have scored those goals from set pieces with the head. Bushchan, Shaparenko, Zinchenko and a number of other guys did not play either. But these are our problems.

Two days later, in Yerevan, our team beat the hosts in enchanting style with a score of 5:0. And the Scots in the British, tough, principled derby, losing 0:1 after the first half, at the end of the meeting, having converted a penalty, pulled out a victory with a score of 2:1. Scotland also lost a number of first-team players due to injuries and suspensions. But that was their problem. True, the Scots were satisfied with a draw in the match with Ukraine in order to remain in first place in the group.

I do not hide the fact that, like most Ukrainians, I was absolutely sure of the victory of our team. I was sure of this for many reasons. The first is the desire of Ukrainian players to return to League A and play again with the top teams in Europe. Secondly, in terms of play, we were much stronger than the Scots, who had a very difficult match with the Irish. We played with Scotland those who did not play with Armenia, which means that Ukraine was fresher.

The third factor is that we had Mikolenko and Zabarny in the ranks, and the leaders of the national team missed the match, namely the Manchester United defender McTominay, Robertson from Liverpool, Tierney from Arsenal, Patterson from Everton and McKenna from Nottingham Forrest. Fourth, we played at home, really at home, in friendly Poland, in hospitable and very beautiful Krakow.

Still, the Scots held on to a draw. What was missing here to achieve the result?

– Our team played much better than the opponent and could close the game in the first half. Yarmolenko and Dovbik had 100% chances to score. But we, as in the match with Wales, were again let down by the failure to implement what the team had created. Therefore, a goalless draw was recorded in favor of Scotland. Emotions will rage for a long time, both in the public and non-public fields.

– After the Ukrainian national team did not reach the World Cup and did not get into Group A of the League of Nations, the media began to raise the issue that another coach could lead the national team instead of Petrakov. What do you think about this?

– It is believed that absolutely everyone understands football. Many are confident only in their version of what is happening and the need for personnel changes. But Dale Carnegie says you shouldn’t make a decision without gathering all the facts, and also without a thorough analysis of what is happening and possible prospects. I think these statements are very correct.

For me personally, there is always a coaching ethic, which says that you should always speak positively about your colleagues in public. And it is right! Yes, journalists, experts and people who have never coached teams have the right to express their personal opinion, because we have a democracy. They have the right to criticize and act as they see fit. They have a right to it! Yes, formally they are right that everyone expected to see our team both at the World Cup and in the top division of the League of Nations. But sometimes desires do not match reality. Because the conditions for achieving results have changed dramatically. Try to reduce the impact of negative emotions from the final results.

It is better to pay attention to the many positive moments that our team gave to all of us. This is the appearance in the debutants of the team, as well as a very serious help to the Ukrainian team (U-21) in getting into the final part of the European Championship. In the home match with the national team of Slovakia (3:0), the collections of the national team of Ukraine played and brought the result. These are goalkeeper Trubin, central defender Sirota, one of the leaders of the central zone of Shakhtar Bondarenko, as well as Sudakov and Sikan, who scored three goals for the Slovaks. This is for those who say that there is no contact between teams. They either do not have this information or are cunning.

Look: five players of the national team played for the youth team and helped it reach the Euro. The main task of the youth team is to prepare football players for the national team. I want no one to forget this. Ukraine showed super results. This is great! Bravo! Well done! It’s nice. And, God forbid, successful performance in subsequent matches.

But do not forget that the main task of the U-17s is to prepare players for the U-19s, and those for the U-21s. Then the players come to the national team. Here is such a vertical! When we are all together and when we treat each other with respect, we will have both the quality of the game and the result. The main thing is to win on the battlefield and drive these Kremlin fascists, rashists from our land. Football today is not a priority with all due respect to this sport and despite the fact that I am a football person. We need to free our land. Glory to Ukraine!