Roman Hryhorchuk: I praise my boys for their courage, resilience, and masculine qualities

The head coach of Odessa "Chornomorets" Roman Hryhorchuk commented on the home match of the 4th round of the UPL against Kryvyi Rih "Kryvbas" - 1:0 on UPL TV.

- What are your impressions after the match?

- Now we are satisfied with the fact that we got three points. We have a lot of information on what we need to work on, because there is really a lot of work. But overall the situation is good: this is the first victory in the UPL, and such a handsome goal was scored. I think, nevertheless, it must be said that this victory is most likely natural, if we evaluate how the game developed.

- If we follow the chronology: the first half - you were already forced to make a substitution, because Kohut was unable to continue the match. We saw his taped knees. How ready was he to play from the first minutes and why did he have to make a forced substitution?

- I am generally dissatisfied with this event. I think that even before the game, Ihor himself somehow understood that he could not play at one hundred percent. And his big mistake was that we did not talk about it. Because if we take it now, analyzing it in retrospect, then I asked him 2 minutes in if he could play, because I saw: something was wrong.

- But everything turned out so that Alefirenko came out and added a certain intensity to the team up front.

- Yes, I am very pleased with this and glad that Alefirenko came out and played a match that he can definitely add to his assets. We are on the way to him returning to the level that he demonstrated in the UPL a few years ago. We are counting on him very much and hope that his full return - in the form that we saw before - is very close.

- Given the situation around the club, this season is expected to be difficult for Chornomorets: matches without fans, difficulties with the base. Have you managed to bring the team into proper condition?

- First of all, I will praise the guys for their courage, resilience and for the true masculine qualities that they are showing now. However, I must admit: from what I see, all this is not going smoothly. I do not see people who could completely ignore this so that it would not affect them. At the same time, I am very glad that we have a strong team. I see how the guys communicate in the locker room not only about football, but also about all these issues. It all looks very solid, and I am pleased with it.

Media of FC "Kryvbas" Kryvyi Rih