He rushed into grown-up football rapidly. After 2016/2017 season in U-19 League, in summer of 2017 young defender started training with FC Dynamo Kyiv first team. The following season, Vitaliy got the regular starting spot and was called up to the national team.
- Two years ago you featured in U-19 League and now you’re Dynamo first team regular. It’s quite impressive, isn’t it?
- Everything happened really fast. But now I must work with double motivation at every session to prove I deserve this starting spot.
- Do you remember your debut for Dynamo first team?
- Of course I do. I couldn’t sleep the following night. Every game gives you certain emotions that keep you awake.
- Was 2017/2018 season a kind of adaptation period for you?
- I guess it was. I was getting used to new teammates and trying to convince myself I’m ready to perform on top level. Of course it was difficult at first considering certain age barrier. So, at first I mostly communicated with Burda, Tsyhankov, Shepelev.
- In spring, your teammate Denys Popov made his debut for the first team in the game against FC Mariupol. Did you give him any advice as more experienced player?
- I don’t think he needs any advice. I just told him to keep calm and to what he’s good at. He showed what he’s capable of on the field.
- Have you got used to the position of left back? In U-19 team you played as centre back…
- Actually I became a centre back in U-19 team, but before that I was a lateral. Of course there were certain difficulties, but I had to get used to it and tried to do my best no matter what my position was.
- You’ve inherited squad number 16 from team captain Serhiy Sydorchuk. Would you like to get captain’s armband in future?
- I don’t have such a goal, but if I get it one day, I’ll try not to disappoint my teammates.
- Do coaches have individual conversations with young players?
- They don’t lay emphasis on age. We talk at theory classes or when we analyze this or that game.
- What’s your attitude to criticism?
- Of course it doesn’t feel good at first, but then I realize that criticism makes me stronger.
- You made your debut for Ukraine in 2018 in the game against Turkey. What did you feel back then?
- It was incredible. Could I imagine in 2012, eating 15-hryvnias pizza in Cherkasy, that I would perform alongside Yevhen Konoplianka and Andriy Shevchenko would be our coach?! As far as it was a friendly, I was quite calm. Shevchenko talked to me after the match, but it will stay between us.
- In March of 2019 you featured in official games. What are your impressions of the duel against champions of Europe in Lisbon?
- It was tough from psychological point of view. We were totally focused on the match. Throughout the game I was on alert not to give my opponent space.
- By the way, Ronaldo called you a tough guy…
- I didn’t aim to play roughly. He also kicked me a couple of times. I even got bruises. Anyway, it’s awesome when one of the best players of the world mentions you.
Yuriy VYSHNEVSKYI, Dynamo magazine (#2, April-June 2019)
