Konoplyanka – about playing for Cluj: Even Messi won’t be able to help there if the club is a complete mess

Ex-winger of Dnepr, Shakhtar and the Ukrainian national team Evgeniy Konoplyanka told the details of his stay in Romania, where he played for Cluj.

“I come to Romania, met the president. Later the guys from the team told me that he never comes. We agreed on all points; I did not ask for any space for money. I just wanted to play and help the team. I got in shape very quickly. I always needed one week – that was enough. I think: “Okay, I’ll play now.”

“The coach doesn’t put me in and doesn’t put me in, and I don’t understand what the problem is. I go up to him: “Is there something wrong with me?” He again cannot communicate normally because he does not know the language. The goalkeeper coach explains to me: “He didn’t know that you would arrive so quickly.” I say: “Okay, good, but what to do next?” He answers: “But there are still many of its own moments.”

“Time passes, I’m already thinking about what I’m doing here. He released me once in the Conference League. I played for 20 minutes and played fine. Better than bad. I thought I would play the next games. We watch the analysis of the game, and he begins to voice some complaints to me: “First of all, you hit the goal.” I hit it several times, sharpened it, everything was fine. I thought he wanted to praise me.”

“And he says: Why didn’t you pass at that moment when there were three players there? Everyone had already surrounded me and was taking the ball, all that was left was to shoot. He continued. He stopped the video and said: “That’s where you could give it between your legs.” I answer: What are you playing on PlayStation? To stop now, move a player from the opposing team and pass.” But I listened to him because I had to show respect, he’s 93 years old.”

“Later I realized that he had his own gang of Italians, whom he put on even when there was no result, because he spoke Italian. He didn’t wait for me, didn’t explain anything, didn’t tell me anything. There was complete chaos there. After unsuccessful matches, the coach said such nasty words to one player right on the field in front of everyone. He is like a little child who plays a game, whoever knows the most bad words wins. This was his game. When I heard this, I said: “Hey, grandfather, show some respect.” All they heard from him was “Ay-yay-yay, fuck!”

“They at the club don’t know who is there and what they are responsible for. I have been silent about Romania for a long time. Even the president said something that I don’t think about football anymore. First of all, the president should think about football and ask his directors why he is not playing. If you hired me, call me and ask why this is the situation. I just wanted to leave there because I knew that no coach there would help. Mutu, the legend, has arrived. He lasted two months. Even Messi won’t be able to help there if the club is a complete mess.”

During his career, Evgeniy played in Dnipro, Seville, Schalke, Shakhtar and Cracovia. Konoplyanka played 87 games for the Ukrainian national team, scoring 21 goals. The winger participated in the 2012 and 2016 European Championships and wore the blue-and-yellow captain’s armband.

With Dnepr, the midfielder reached the final of the Europa League (2014/15), and with Sevilla he triumphed in the 2015/16 Europa League. The 2017/18 season brought the Ukrainian silver medals in the Bundesliga. In the 2019/20 season, Konoplyanka became the champion of Ukraine as part of Shakhtar.

The player’s last club was Cluj. Since January of this year, Evgeniy remained without a club after leaving Romania. For Cluj, the midfielder played in four matches last season, spending a total of less than an hour on the field. And already in July, the Ukrainian officially retired.

Konoplyanka is currently working in two areas. Evgeniy became the creator of the esports organization kONO.ECF, and also opened a scouting agency together with Roman Zozulya.