Empoli's senior manager Viktor Kovalenko spoke about the war in Ukraine, his family, and also shared his thoughts about national Russian athletes.

“We have been scattered a little from our homeland. Tato, who calls me the same as me, having met me in Empoli. Mom Lyudmila was about to lose her life in Kherson. My brother Dmitro moved to Nimechchina and, fortunately, works there. My daughter Anastasia is here in Empol, but she immediately returned to Kiev before family for a few days: thirty years by bus. Exit from Florence. I’m not boasting, Kiev has the situation under control.

In Ukraine I have not been three times. I'm already running around the house. Went back to having a nice dinner with friends. I was spared: professional football brings prestige to the country, and not demands to fight. Ale natomist fight non-professionals.

Russian football?

I don’t know how I would have reacted if I had seen a Russian in the field. It’s not their fault, but it’s a shame that they didn’t vikorize social measures and their popularity for expanding the anti-war message,” quote Kovalenko TMW from the posts on La Gazzetta dello Sport.

This season, Kovalenko competed in four matches, in which he scored one goal and played 59 matches on the field..

It was previously reported that Kovalenko is the highest paid citizen of Empoli.