Trainer Zari Yuri Vernidub told Football. ua about the past season and the plans of the team for the future.

Season-2017/2018 turned out to be difficult and ambiguous for Zarya. On the one hand, the team could not keep the third place in the championship, sometimes losing points on level ground, on the other - managed to fight in fights against Dynamo and Shakhtar. In the European League, the Luhansk region again did not overcome the barrier of the group round, but at the same time they were able to beat such rivals as the Spanish Athletic and German Hertha. Trainer Zari Yuri Vernidub in an interview with Football. ua analyzed the past season, told about the plans of the team for the future and commented on the events at the current final tournament of the 2018 World Cup.

I am proud that for the ninth year I have been working in Zara - Yuri Nikolayevich, you signed a new contract with Zarey for two years. How easy was this decision made?.

- The decision that I will remain in Zara was accepted long ago, and all the terms of the agreement were agreed in advance, it was only necessary to sign the contract.

- So you did not consider other options for continuing your career this summer?.

- No. I'm proud that I've been working in Zara for the ninth year, and during this time the team is moving forward, becoming competitive. We work well in the transfer market, new players appear that are revealed in Zara. Someone remains in the team, someone we give a start in life, while the club earns on their transfers. I think we are on the right track.

- The leadership of the club was satisfied with the performances of the team last season?.

- This is a question more to management. But if they decided to extend the contract with me for another two years - it means, in general, it remains satisfied. Of course, the final result was not the one I wanted. I was not told that our work did not suit, only that I was ready to continue cooperation with me.

- And personally, how can you characterize the season that ended?.

- It's hard to say unequivocally. The impression remained twofold. The task for the season, we can say, was not fulfilled, but for that there were both objective and subjective reasons. Now the main thing is to analyze the mistakes made and not repeat them in the future.

Season-2017/2018 turned out to be ambiguous. Now the main thing is to analyze the mistakes and prevent them in the future. What objective reasons can you name?.

- To begin with, we went on the way to rejuvenate the composition. And it is understandable that when a large number of new players come to the team, they need time for adaptation. Solve this issue within a month is impossible, no matter how much everyone wanted.

- What are the positive points you can note last season? What did you manage to do?.

- From positive moments, I can say that we, despite everything, fought for the third place until the last round, kept intrigue in the championship. Alas, it did not work out. But here it is necessary to pay tribute to Vorskla, to which we conceded this very third place. The team from the very beginning of the championship as caught on him, so in the end, and did not miss it.

- You also mentioned subjective reasons ... - Let it stay with me.

- In one of the interviews goalkeeper Andrei Lunin said that Zarya had grown significantly as a team, but she just did not score points in those matches in which it seemed she had to take a maximum. Do you agree?.

- Of course, I agree. We lost a lot of points during the championship. Perhaps the most striking example was our home defeat from Vorskla already in the final six - 0: 3. Well, this is football - someone wins, someone loses. Although it was in that match that nothing foreshadowed such a result after the first half, which ended with a score of 0: 0. Perhaps it was that Vorskla was a more experienced team than ours, and Poltava footballers, perhaps, more wanted to win.

- Last season, Zarya had some recessions, which, from the outside, it was difficult to explain ... - In fact, explain them simply. In comparison with the season-2016/2017, we have only seven players in the team, of which only four - stable players of the "basis". I think that if the same Shakhtar or Dynamo have five or six people left, and the rest will be new players, then these teams will not be able to immediately play and stably pass the entire season. New players come to a new team, in which they have to adapt, they face new demands, new pressures, which still need to be used. Hence, recessions are inevitable.

- After one of the matches, you said that your players do not deserve to be called peasants ... - I'm an emotional person, and it was said in a huff. You can call this a normal working moment. In fact, this does not reflect the actual situation. Yes, there was a period when the team to some extent lost its character, and the guys themselves understood this perfectly.

- What moments of the last season would you call the most successful for the team?.

- There were enough games from which I enjoyed. Take, at least, matches in the European League - the victory over Athletic and Herta. Draw with Dynamo, when in the course of the match we conceded - 0: 3, but could finish the game with a score of 4: 4, or when they lost to Olympic 1: 3, but played in the end 3: 3, finishing in the minority. Victory over the Miner. That is, those fights in which the team showed character. Although, of course, at some point, and luck was on our side. At the same time there were games in which everything was exactly the opposite. For example, a home match with Alexandria, when after the first half we won 2: 0 and did not foreshadow failure, but in the end - 2: 2. Or a cup match with Shakhtar, in which we led in the score 2-0, but the opponent played at a compensated time, when we remained in the minority. In extra time, already losing, we managed to recoup, but eventually missed the decisive ball at the very end of the overtime. But this is the beauty of football. Therefore, he is interesting to hundreds of millions of fans.

- Since you mentioned the League of Europe, then analyze the performances of Zari in this tournament.

- It was very difficult to start in the European League with a practically new team that had not yet had time to properly prepare. But, nevertheless, we won two matches. I believe that our speeches should be characterized positively. Yes, I would like to perform even better, but before the start we were predicted a complete failure. Nevertheless, I am grateful to the guys who fought on two fronts.

In the Europa League, we wanted to do better, but we were predicted a complete failure - you managed to beat Athletic and Gert, and what was not enough in the fights against Ostersund, which no one considered the favorite?.

- Probably, knowingly Ostersund took four points from Herta and was able to draw a draw with Athletics in the group round, and already in the playoffs to win a guest at Arsenal. This is a good team, and at the time of our face-to-face meetings, it was better prepared. In addition, if we analyze deeper, then all of our rivals, by and large, bet on Eurocups. Ostersund in the championship of Sweden eventually took the fifth place, Herth in the Bundesliga - the tenth, and Athletic struggled for survival in La Liga, lost the coach and eventually finished the sixteenth. We did not divide tournaments into important and secondary. I, as a coach, are a maximalist, and I always adjust to high goals. I would like to do better, but life continues, and I hope that in the future the results will be higher.

- This season you will have to start in the qualification of the Europa League ... - Yes, twice we started from the qualifying stage and twice stopped in the play-off round. I hope, this time we will overcome it. I see a plus in the fact that before the first game in European competition we will hold three matches in the championship, there will be confidence, teamwork. But that's what I think, and how everything turns out to be really - it's hard to say. I want everything to be always good, but not always.

- Did you have a desire to change the situation? Team, championship?.

- Any coach sometimes has such a desire, and I am no exception. It's unpleasant only that there are "agents" who start me "wooing" in other teams, in Dynamo, somewhere else. I'm not against such conversations, but it is necessary that everything be correct. I never discuss colleagues, their problems, prospects, who will go where. But they decided to "woo" me ... Well, God is their judge.

It's unpleasant that there were "agents" who suddenly started "wooing" me in Dynamo and other teams - There were too many rumors around your person: you are being carried bags of money from Kazakhstan, suitcases from Kiev ... - Those who spread it all , probably had some of their goals. And it concerned not only me, but the whole club Zarya. So much dirt was poured ... I understand that there is such a thing as an information war, but not to the same degree.

- And what is it connected with, in your opinion?.

- It's better to ask those who have led this "war". I did not fight with anyone, only tried to protect my team and my players as much as possible.

- Do not you think that the reason is that someone felt in Zara a real competitor?.

- Perhaps this is really true. The competitors realized that it's not easy for us to cope on the football field, so we decided to go on the other side. This can be regarded as a compliment: if any funds are used, then we are moving in the right direction. This experience turned out to be instructive for us. As they say, the more we are beaten, the stronger we become.

- I can not help but touch your conflict with the TV channels Football1 / Football 2 ... - I did not have any conflict with TV channels. It was they who arranged this conflict. I did not offend anyone, I just brought a parallel with certain historical events. History should be known, and those who do not know it, it is worth reading. I explained my position in detail in a letter to the Ethics and Fair Play Committee.

"And what did the committee decide?".

- He needs to ask. To me of anything about any decision did not inform, if it in general is. The meeting, as far as I know, was, but I do not know anything about its results. I believe that I have not committed anything wrong, therefore I am not interested in the development of events. If I had been punished, I probably would have been informed. When something bad - this is immediately reported, and so - silence. In general, decisions are made in different situations in different ways. Matters with other clubs last long, according to Zara, the verdict is taken out quickly, as for example, with Alexander Svatok: since we had to play with Shakhtar, the decision to disqualify was made instantly. Perhaps this is also an element of "war".

- For Zarya in the current conditions, the third place in the championship of Ukraine is the ceiling?.

- It's hard to say ... I, like a coach, of course, want more. We are not going to somehow limit our goals, but as it turns out - time will tell. In any case, you should always try to take a step forward.

You can put any tasks you want. The main thing is for the team to move forward - In the season-2018/2019, what tasks are facing Zarey?.

- You can set tasks as you like. But for me the main thing is for the team to move forward. In general, the goal is to perform better than in the previous season. At the very least - to regain the third place. The same goes for the League of Europe - I also want to take a step forward. We are all grown-up people, and we do not need to set specific tasks. In any case, we will try to make the most out of it.

- What personnel changes have already occurred in the team and what can we expect before the transfer window closes?.

- Zeljko Lubonovich has finished his career, with Ruslan Babenko, the contract was canceled, Yuri transferred to the United Arab Emirates, Alexander Andrievsky was rented, and he returned to Dynamo. There are also newcomers. Signed Zauri Makharadze from Olympique, Levan Arveladze from Desna, returned Nikita Kamenyuk, Vitaly Vernidub, Dmitry Khomchenovsky. We are also negotiating the transfer of two forwards. I hope these players will join us, but for now I will not name them, I will only say that they are not Ukrainian forwards.

I take off my hat before Andrei Lunin for how he coped with psychological pressure - The loudest transfer of Zarya - the departure of Andrei Lunin ... - Andrei was very hard during the season. Constant rumors about his possible transition, different countries, different teams ... But the guy is only 19 years old. Do you remember how much talk there was about the possible transfer of Andrei Yarmolenko? Two or three years there were constant rumors. But Yarmolenko was already a developed player, and it was probably easier for him to cope with the pressure. Another thing is Lunin. I just take off my hat in front of him because of how he coped with this psychological pressure. He just did his job and he did it well..

- Andrew did not talk about his personal preferences - in which club would he like to pursue a career?.

"I tried not to conduct such conversations with him, so as not to jerk the guy up again. After the signing of the contract, he, probably, will tell about it.

- Lunin's departure is a big loss for the team?.

- We foresaw this option, so Zauri Makharadze from Olympic. In addition, we have Oleg Chuvaev and Luis Felipe. So for the team it will not be a disaster. At the same time for the club and the player himself is a very successful transfer.

- How is the work of Dawn in the transfer market? Do you submit to the management a list of specific players you want to see in the team, or simply call positions that need strengthening?.

- I call positions that need to be strengthened. The selection service represents several players that we are looking at, and if we are satisfied with the candidature of one of them, a contract is signed with him. Usually we take free agents or young players who have not yet revealed their potential.

- The plans for the season have not changed?.

- No, until June 28 we will prepare in Zaporozhye, we will play one control match against Mariupol on June 25. Then fly to Slovenia, where we will hold five more sparring matches with Partizan on July 3, Domzale July 6, Chukarichkami July 9, Astra July 11 and Hajduk July 13.

Football is beautiful with its unpredictability. And the 2018 World Cup proves it - Now the world's attention is focused on the World Cup 2018. How do you like the tournament?.

- So far the most vivid, instructive and worthy fight was Spain - Portugal, a very good match. Also I liked the meeting between Brazil and Switzerland. The Swiss frankly surprised me and really enjoyed the second half. Brazil began so brightly that it was supposed to finish the first half with a score of 3-0, and even more, but ... I can not help but mention the match Germany Mexico, and especially liked Mexico, the way the team went into counterattacks. Mexicans won 1-0, but many things they failed to realize. Although Germany could score several goals and win.

- In the match between Spain and Portugal, the main factor that the Portuguese managed to draw was Cristiano Ronaldo, or is the national team strong enough to compete for the main trophy?.

- I'm inclined to the fact that Ronaldo is Ronaldo, a player of the world, the highest level. Probably, it's wrong to single out one football player, but all that Portugal scored is a merit to Cristiano. And a great penalty, and earned and realized penalty - his credit. Yes, and the error of De Gea - this is also a result of the pressure of the person Cristiano Ronaldo. If you go back to the penalty spot, then you also need to implement it. Here Lionel Messi, for example, did not realize a penalty in the match against Iceland, and in the end, Argentina could not win. Or if you recall Roberto Baggio in 1994, whose blunder from the "point" cost Italy the title of world champion. Accidents? Yes, but they sometimes play a decisive role. Football is beautiful with its unpredictability. Who would say that Mexico will beat Germany? If you analyze and compare both teams, how could you predict such a result? Or Brazil, who played with Switzerland 1: 1, Japan, defeated the Colombians?.

- And whom do you consider the main favorite of the final tournament of the World Cup?.

- Despite the defeat in the first match, I think Germany will reach the very end. And so it is very difficult to predict. If I talk about my personal preferences, then I would like to see the championship win England. But, judging by the first match, in which only the goal of Harry Kane in compensated time brought the English victory over not the strongest contender - Tunisia, they will be very difficult.

- As Sven-Goran Eriksson said, until England introduces a winter break, the national team will not be able to win the World or European championships, as the players are exhausted by an exhausting season ... - Probably, they understood this themselves, because they decided to enter the winter break. People are not robots, and it's almost impossible to endure such a burden that falls on Englishmen playing in the Premier League. In this regard, Spain, which is also a very difficult championship, in which, like in England, plays a lot of stars, it's easier. Therefore, the Spaniards will be among the favorites of the world championship.

- Will the Spanish team not adversely change the coach in a few days before the start of the mundialya?.

- It's hard for me to judge, but this move of the Spanish federation I did not quite understand. Even the fact that Khulen Lopetegi accepted Real's proposal would not prevent him from finalizing in the national team until the end of the championship. Yes, he did not act correctly, negotiating in secret from the current employer, but the leadership of the federation of football should not have to compromise the interests of the national team because of their own insult. It seems to me that Lopetegi himself did not expect the offer from Real, and there were no long negotiations, because from the opportunity to work with a team like Real Madrid or Barcelona or Manchester United it's hard to refuse. But much depends on the nature of the person.

- And if suddenly you received an offer from the top club?.

- I have an agreement with the president that if I receive an offer from another club, I immediately inform the management. I will not say that I did not have them. There was an offer from a very good club and beneficial in all respects. But I did stay in Zara.

I had an advantageous offer from Russia, but I will not work there - From whom, if not secret?.

- Now do not talk about it. I will only say that it was from Russia, but I will not work there in any case, despite the fact that the club with a very good name.

- Based on the results of the poll on our website on the definition of the best coach of the last season of the ULP, you took the fourth place, having passed ahead of Paul Fonsec, Vasily Sachko and Alexander Khatskevich. Right?.

- Absolutely. Fonseca won the championship two years in a row. Khatskevich from the youth created a team that until the very end created competition for Shakhtar. And Sachko was able to make an excellent team in Poltava, which achieved a good result, became a bronze medalist, despite the fact that at the beginning there was a lot of criticism in his address.

- Did you think about the prospect of working with the national team?.

- While such proposals were not, but if it appeared - of course, I would have considered it. From such proposals it is difficult to refuse what to dissemble ... - But this is a completely different specificity of work, and many coaches who successfully worked with clubs, but failed with teams, and vice versa know ... - If you do not try, you will not know what for you better. That's why it does not scare me. If there is a chance - it is necessary to use it, otherwise it is impossible to reveal its full potential.

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