Yurii Vernydub: We chose this path and now we have no right to take a step back

The head coach of Kryvyi Rih "Kryvbas" Yuriy Vernydub commented on the home victory in the 1st round of UPL over Odesa "Chornomorets" - 1:0 at the post-match press conference.

- Difficult game, the first in the championship. I understood that "Chornomorets" will play from the defense. They also have difficult times, we understood that. They played 5-4-1, with five defenders. They pressed into their penalty area, it was not easy to break this defense. But we still scored and still had moments. Instead, they could have missed: Khoblenko hit the crossbar, and after Butko's shot, Klischuk saved. It is necessary to analyze everything and make sure that such moments do not happen again at our gates. There is a lot to work on.

A difficult August is ahead. After this game, a game in the Europa League against "Victoria" will follow, and then in two days against "Karpat" in the UPL and so on. Rotation? Let's see. The team is ready for such a busy schedule, because we have chosen this path and now we have no right to take a step back. I am confident in the team.

- The task for the season is a minimum of silver?

- You always want to be higher. Last season we were leading and I said to the boys why not? Everything is possible. A vivid example is "Leicester". I always want more. But the guys should understand that, and also that defending bronze will be more difficult than last year. I believe in my boys, and life will show there.

- Are you satisfied with the Club's transfer policy in the summer off-season?

- It is not so easy to do all this, you understand. We value our Club, respect the management. We understand what we can at the moment. We do not look at clubs with inflated financial capabilities. There is a war going on in Ukraine, don't forget about it. The guys we signed are reinforcements, they will help us.

- I was surprised by the starting line-up today. As if you recorded one composition at the meeting, and another one came out...

- Meetings are meetings. At the last moment, they signed the right central defender Romanchuk. They played in the center of Drambaev, and he looked very good. But for now the choice is this. No one thought that Konate, who pulled a muscle, would get injured. I hope that on August 10, Bakari will be in the general group. Yes, the fans wrote that we entered only two defenders for the Europa League, and that is very little.

21 football players applied for the League. Three of them are goalkeepers. We cannot say more. Already after the third round, we will be able to add someone again, or withdraw someone, we'll see. That's how we will move. This is life. Both Ponedelnik and Drambaev can play in the center. In general, each of us is in his place.

Media of FC "Kryvbas" Kryvyi Rih