Bartulovich: They say in Croatia that the scenarios of the Balkan war are very similar to today’s war in Ukraine

Coach Ingulets, Croatian specialist Mladen Bartulovich in an exclusive interview with Sport Arena spoke about the large-scale war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine, about preparations for the new season, and also appreciated the appointment of Yuriy Vernidub to the position of head coach of Kryvbas.

– Mladen, on February 24, were you with the team in Kyiv? Can you remember that day?

– Of course. February 24 – this date, this day will be remembered for a lifetime. We just arrived from the training camp in Kyiv at two in the morning. It was one of the last passenger planes that flew into Ukraine before the war. At four in the morning, the first rockets flew over Ukraine, and there were the first explosions. It is difficult to describe this state. It was a state of panic for everyone, when everyone realized in the morning that the war had begun. We began to think about what to do, where to go. It was a very difficult moment for everyone. There were no faces in the people.

– When did you leave Kyiv?

– Everyone understood that it was necessary to leave Kyiv, because they talked a lot about the fact that the main goal is to capture the capital. We managed to leave Kyiv in the evening with the whole team. I went to my family in the Dnieper and already there I decided what to do next and how to act. We decided to stay in the Dnieper. And so, in principle, throughout the war, my family and I are in the Dnieper.

What month of the war was the most difficult for you?

– Hard to say. I think that all this time of war is a very difficult time for everyone. But at the beginning of the war there was complete uncertainty: what would happen, how the situation would develop. All the time since the beginning of the war is very difficult. We hope that as soon as possible all this will end with our victory and the liberation of our territories.

Is it possible to compare the war in Croatia and Ukraine in some way?

— I communicate a lot with people from Croatia who, more than me, remember this war in the Balkans and who felt it. I was a little kid then and I don’t remember everything. In Croatia they say that the scenarios are very similar to today’s war in Ukraine.

– By the way, are you happy for Modric that he won another Champions League trophy with Real Madrid?

– Of course, I am very happy for Luka, because I had the honor to play with this super football player. I rejoice in every success. And, of course, I was also happy about this success in the Champions League. Supported Modric in the final.

What are your expectations for the new season?

– Hard to say. For now, there is a lot of uncertainty. It is not clear what condition the players and clubs are in. It is not clear how everything will happen. We hope that everything will be fine, that we will be able to hold the championship and return to our favorite business – playing football.

– Do you think the UPL matches will be in Ukraine?

– I think yes. I think that UPL matches will be held in Ukraine, based on the information that I get from the media, from the press.

– By the way, Ingulets has already gathered at the training base and held the first lesson in preparation for the new season.

Yes, we started working as a team. Gathered at the base, the first gathering began. I know that many other teams have begun their preparation for the new season, slowly getting ready for the championship. Kryvbas, Oleksandriya, Dynamo, Shakhtar, and other teams began to slowly prepare.

— Appointment of Yuriy Vernydub as the head coach of Kryvbas, how do you assess it?

– Only positive. This is a very qualified coach who has been, let’s say, in the top of Ukrainian coaches lately. It gives results. Vernydub gave results both in Zara and in Sheriff. I think this is a very good move by the leadership of Kryvbas. The team will play in the Premier League. I think that Yuriy Nikolayevich will create a fighting team, and Kryvbas will be a powerful force in the Premier League.