Dynamo Kyiv goalkeeper Ruslan Neshcheret spoke about his injury, new goalkeeper training methods and how he continues to develop his game.
– You didn’t train much during the camp because of an injury. How are you feeling now?
– I’m feeling good now. Today was actually my first day back. I tried all the movements with my shoulder and practiced falling on it. So far everything feels fine.
– You traveled to Munich for a consultation. How did that trip go for you?
– It went well. Doctors gave positive feedback about my shoulder and also about my achilles because I had a slight inflammation during running sessions. They said everything looks good.
– There’s a new coaching staff and new goalkeeper coaches. Tell us a bit about them and their methods. Have you already gained new knowledge?
– Since I didn’t train much during the camp I mostly observed guys. There are many new reaction-based exercises. We work with special glasses that block peripheral vision. It’s interesting and very informative.
– Have you practiced situations where the goalkeeper goes into the opponent’s penalty area in the final minutes to try to score like Trubin did in the Champions League?
– Trubin’s goal was spectacular, it looked great. But you know, that’s situational. I think you need a bit of luck to run up there and score a goal like that.
– In general is it a normal trend for goalkeepers to go forward and try to save the team? Should that be practiced in training?
– We recently watched the Manchester City vs Liverpool match where Alisson went forward. They could have conceded a third goal but they also could have scored and equalized. So it’s all intuitive and situational – it might work out or it might not.
– The goalkeeper is the only unique position in the starting lineup. There are four or five defenders, depending on the system but only one goalkeeper. What can goalkeeper do that outfield players can’t?
– Catch the ball with our hands – that’s all we can do (smiles).
– How do goalkeepers improve? What do you personally focus on? Which exercises are most effective for development?
– First of all I watch a lot of football and pay attention to how goalkeepers move and what helps them save their teams – positioning or something else. Goalkeepers always have room to improve, there’s no final point of perfection. You have to learn something new every day.
– There’s emphasis on hands and reaction. Some goalkeepers are good with their feet, others less so. How do you find the right balance?
– First of all you have to watch and analyze others. Secondly you have to practice. Practice is the only thing you can do to improve.
