Ryazantsev: I believe that Metalist is able to remain in the First League

A unique case for us – the jury of the PFL and Sport Arena simultaneously names two players as laureates of the 16th round. Their achievements are so powerful that it is difficult to ignore what is perfect. The first hero is already announced: Evgeny Ryazantsev with his two goals brought Metalist their first victory since the summer. The second is Dmitry Shcherbak. Involved in four goals in the regional derby.

The hero of the sixteenth round in the First League, Evgeny Ryazantsev, in an exclusive interview with Sport Arena, shared his impressions of the long-awaited victory of Metalist, and also recalled his first steps in football.

— How important is it for you to be recognized as the best player of the tour?

– Of course, I am very pleased, but, first of all, this is the merit of the whole team. I thank my partners for their help. This recognition further motivates me to new achievements.

– The metal player couldn’t win eleven rounds. How did you manage to withstand this blow from a psychological point of view?

“It wasn’t easy for us, but we believed in our own strengths.” We understood that if we work hard, the result will come sooner or later. We are happy that we have finally broken this losing streak.

— What, in your opinion, is the reason for such results, since you played quite well?

— I think that in terms of the quality of play we are definitely not the worst team, but we could not maintain a winning result in some matches. We lacked patience and luck was not on our side. We have talented players who are capable of achieving results.

— What did the coaching staff focus on before the game with Prykarpattya, which had a solid unbeaten streak?

– We don’t pay attention to our opponents. It is important to play your best football, which will allow you to achieve results. We respect our rivals, but we are not afraid.

– At the beginning of the meeting, after Busko’s shot and the rebound from you, the ball flew into the goal. Can we say that fortune has finally smiled on your team?

“We were happy that we were finally lucky, but we understood that the whole game was still ahead of us.” We tried to play as carefully as possible in defense and take advantage of our chances in attack.

– After the goal, did you feel like you were in control of the match? Or was it still difficult to hold back the opponent’s onslaught?

“It wasn’t easy for us, but we managed.” I think we played in a fairly organized manner and didn’t allow many chances to be created near our own goal. We are happy that we were finally able to maintain the winning result.

– In the middle of the second half, Tsyutsyura equalized the score from the penalty spot. What did you think after this episode? How did you manage to find the strength to attack further?

– The main thing was to take advantage of your chance, and there was no doubt that he would. Believing in ourselves helped us win.

— In the 78th minute, after a pass from goalkeeper Rybak, you shot past the goalkeeper with a strong right-handed shot. Have you already thanked Vladislav for the great assist? Have you ever scored from a goalie pass before?

– Of course, I’m very grateful to Vladislav for the gorgeous program. I’ve never scored from a goalkeeper’s pass before, but I hope it’s not the last time.

– How did you perceive the victory?

“Everyone was happy because they were finally able to achieve the desired result.” Our work has borne fruit. We have taken a breath, but we understand that the key matches are still ahead. The coach congratulated him on the victory and thanked him for his character. We try to play combination football, but sometimes we get too carried away. I believe that this style of play allows the young players on our team to progress.

– How satisfied are you personally with your performance in this part of the season?

— I’m not too pleased, because I expected more. I wanted to score as many goals as possible, but my execution let me down somewhat. I will work even harder to achieve significant progress in the future.

– Do you remember your first steps in football? What do you remember most?

– I have many pleasant memories. The school announced enrollment in the football section, and I signed up myself. I came home and confronted my father with the fact that tomorrow I had to go to training. (laughs).

— You are a graduate of the Dynamo Academy. Who coached you then and which of the current football stars did you play with?

– Dynamo had many coaches who helped me achieve professional progress. I would like to mention my first coach, Sergei Velichko. As for partners, I have played with many and continue to play. I would not like to single out anyone in particular. I hope that we will meet them again on the green lawn. Unfortunately, not all guys can adapt to adult football and are forced to end their careers.

– At the end of July 2020, you moved to Mayak, which competed in the Kharkov region championship. How difficult was it to adapt to the level of amateur football?

– I needed to somehow maintain my athletic shape and not lose my playing tone, that’s why I played for amateurs. Every experience is useful.

– On August 21, 2020, we signed a contract with Metal, which was then renamed Metalist. What can you remember about the team that won the Second League? Who was the leader of a powerful team?

– Indeed, it was a very strong team that could solve the most ambitious tasks. Metalist was played by high-quality football players with experience in the UPL. The leader was Ruslan Fomin.

– In 2022, you were on loan in Ponferradina, Spain. Can you remember this period in your career?

– I really liked this country. I gained invaluable experience that will help me in the future.

– Perhaps you had any offers from UPL clubs? Why did you decide to stay in Metalist?

– When you receive an offer from Metalist, you don’t even consider other options. I stayed in the team because I spent a lot of time with this club. I want to reach new heights with Metalist.

– What goals do you set for yourself for this season? Is Metalist able to maintain his registration in the First League?

– I believe that the team is able to remain in the First League. I set the most ambitious goals for myself. I try to score and give assists as much as possible. I will do everything to help Metalist win.

BLITZ

• Born in Kyiv
• Pupil of Dynamo school
• First coach – Sergei Pavlovich Velichko
• I support Manchester City and Real Madrid
• I follow a number of players, but I want to mention Haaland, Mbappe, Mudrik, Vinicius and Saka.
• Goal in football? I strive to play at the highest level. I want to play in European cups and in the national team of Ukraine

Yaroslav Krokha