Andrievsky: Times are hard now, we need to protect children and protect them from missiles

Midfielder Dynamo Oleksandr Andrievsky spoke about the preparation of the White-Blues for the new season, shared his opinion about the future opponents of Kiev in the Champions League qualification and assessed the current realities of Ukrainian football.

It was one of the strangest vacations of your life. Did you manage to recover mentally?

– Morally, it is very difficult, to be honest. This has never happened before, I couldn’t even imagine. But we are adapting to the current realities. Therefore, we are happy that thanks to our soldiers we can do what we love and train. Especially at home, in Kyiv. It’s even nicer.

– When there were charity matches, many did not expect that the players would be in such physical shape. It came as a surprise to you too, because for a long time you were without practice at all?

We kept in shape as best we could. But these are not the workouts we are used to. Therefore, there were concerns about the state we would be in before these matches. But the people of Ukraine gave us motivation. That’s why we ran ahead. There were many of our fans at all matches and this also played a certain role.

– Now the team is being updated, there are a lot of young guys, tell us how they adapt to the team?

– As usual, it’s hard in the beginning. At the training camp, the first days are always difficult, a lot of running work, because we are laying the foundation for the entire championship. Now it’s hard for everyone, but we try to help younger guys so that it’s easier for them to adapt to the team. I don’t see any problems, everyone is trying.

– Now many people are discussing that one of the biggest problems of Ukrainian football may be the loss of the gene pool of Ukrainian talents, because many young players have gone abroad and it is far from certain that most of them will return to Ukraine …

– I saw the video of Roma Bebekh. I also thought about it. These are hard times, indeed. We need to protect children and protect children from missiles. Time will tell. But I hope that all our children will return to peaceful Ukraine. And we will develop them here.

– Will all funds and accents be focused on children’s football now?

– I think that’s right. Invest in children’s football, and in the future it will bear fruit. Somewhere adult football will lose, but this is normal in this situation. The main thing is to save children’s football.

– Do you keep in touch with the departed legionnaires?

– I’m in touch with them. When we played with Legia in Warsaw, Kengera came and played for us, Verbic also. We communicate with them. They really want to come back, I hope they will join us.

– Fenerbahce. What can you say about your opponent in the qualification for the Champions League?

– In fact, I follow the Turkish championship, especially since we played a friendly match with them, there are even big football stars there. If we prepare properly and fulfill the task of the coach, we can beat Fenerbahce.

– Now they are discussing where it is better to play the championship of Ukraine: here or abroad?

– Hard to say. But I think that it is necessary to play in Ukraine, I am very drawn here, to Kyiv. This is my home, I want to be here. It’s important for me. If they say that we need to play in Poland, we will play there. But I want to play at home. Of course, there is no complete security, and no one can guarantee it, but my feeling is that I want to play at home.

– Is it a big problem that before the matches with Fenerbahce there will be no official matches, only friendly games?

– We will have very good sparring, especially since, as far as I know, Fenerbahce will not start the championship by that time. Therefore, we will be on an equal footing.

– What would you like to convey to all our defenders?

– Strength! It’s hard for me to imagine how they are there. Only strength. Even though they are so strong. We are with them with all our heart and soul. Hold on guys, we are with you!