Petrakov: We want to take the field and rehabilitate

The head coach of the Ukrainian national team spoke about the team’s preparation for the decisive match of the League of Nations.

In the first match against Scotland in the League of Nations, the Ukrainian national team had a big loss in personnel – this was one of the reasons for the unsuccessful result. This was announced at the pre-match press conference by the head coach of the national team, Alexander Petrakov.

According to him, the players really want to redeem themselves for a big failure in Glasgow. In addition, Petrakov said whether he will remain at the helm of the national team after his contract.

“There is no negotiation. The match is open, then you will know everything. This is a question for the president of the UAF.

I have been working as the head coach of the Ukrainian national team for more than a year. I have adapted. At first it was very difficult. The details of working in the national team are that here every match is responsible. The responsibility here is growing exponentially. In front of people, in front of everyone. And the level of these matches is very high – one match is worth ten in the domestic championship.

After the national team matches, I was very tired at home. It’s very difficult. But I left quickly, literally in three or four days. International matches are a very serious level. It’s not forced, but the responsibility is huge.

I don’t want to offend the Armenian national team, but each player of the Armenian national team individually and each player of the Scottish national team individually – it’s a huge difference. The Scots play in the English Premier League. The choice will not be difficult. There will be permutations, but it’s not difficult for me.

I don’t look at who won’t play for Scotland. I look after my team. We played with the Scots on June 1 in the playoffs for qualification to the 2022 World Cup and we won 3-1. Then we lost 0:3 in Glasgow. Score 1:1. We will play again tomorrow.

Thank you to the Scottish national team, the Scottish Football Federation, the head coach and the team for agreeing to postpone our matches in March due to the war. They can refuse.

We are not France or Spain – we cannot provide three or four equal trains. We have losses, for example, Alexander Zinchenko. He is a good man and a good football player. We often lack players. In the first match, Zabarny did not play due to disqualification, there was no Mikolenko, although he wanted to play. It’s difficult for us when some of the key players don’t play. Not enough Bushchan, Shaparenko.

On June 1, there was a completely different game – the selection playoffs for the World Championship. The League of Nations is a completely different tournament. On September 21, we did not go out with a different mood, but people came from different clubs: some played, some did not. Everyone left a mark. Everyone came in a different state, we had a bad situation before the Scotland match. Now everything has leveled off, the guys are doing a great job. Everyone is ready to play. We really want to get on the field and rehabilitate.

I do not know how many Ukrainians will be in the fight. Now such facts, we play all matches away from home. I really want to play at home, I don’t know when it will happen. But in Poland, we feel at home,” Petrakov said at a pre-match press conference.

Remember, the match in the sixth round of the group stage of the League of Nations Ukraine – Scotland will be held on Tuesday, September 27, in Krakow at the stadium. Jozef Pilsudski. The starting whistle for the meeting will sound at 21:45 Kyiv time.

Petrakov’s wards are two points behind the opponent in the standings. So, in a head-to-head match, only one victory will suit the Ukrainian team.

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