How did being handed the job as Ukraine manager compare to your numerous other achievements in football?
This is a huge responsibility and something special too, during a hard and different time compared to before the war. The people of Ukraine are looking to us in the national side to help create better emotions for them, so we need to produce positive performances. We’re constantly battling for good results, but it’s important that our performances go way beyond that. We want the world to see that we’re still here, alive, fighting for our freedom and showing our character.
Given the ongoing war in Ukraine, what’s your biggest challenge as manager?
Today, the whole world is aware of what has happened and is continuing to happen in Ukraine. We want to support our own people – everyone is together on that and naturally we want
