Rotan: In the first 10 minutes of the match we were a little worried, and then the game was practically under our control

Head coach youth team of Ukraine Ruslan Rotan summed up the match with Romania (1:0) in the second round European Championship 2023. The specialist also commented on the removal of Vladislav Vanat at the end of the fight.

“We had a very good match. Big compliments for our players! I told the guys that I have no doubt that we have a team, a character. We can do more, we need to work on it. Somewhere in the first 10 minutes of the match, we were a little worried, and then the game was practically under our control. We had a lot of chances to take the lead early,” Rotan said.

“At such moments, when there is an advantage, and the ball does not go into the goal, the most important thing is the reaction to the loss of the ball, mistakes when we immediately return the ball. Today it was, the guys understood it completely, gave their last strength. Luck must be earned, and they deserve it with their game, skill and character.

“We won this victory with the whole team, including with the help of Vlad [Ваната]. But I told him that he punished himself. He must control emotions, be a professional, not pay attention to provocations. This is youth, we are playing the U-21 tournament. It will be a very good lesson for Vanat. It is important that in the remaining minutes our players gnawed out the result for him as well. He punished himself, the guys have a lot of respect. I don’t think he will do that in the future.”

The Ukrainian national team won two victories at Euro 2023 and is in the lead in Group B. In the next match, Ruslan Rotan’s team will play against Spain on June 27.