Andriy Shevchenko - “Modern Footballers Need A Lot More Intelligence”

Ukraine’s coach talks about the challenges he is facing in the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign

- Samindra Kunti

You were Mykhaylo Formenko’s assistant at Euro 2016. How did you approach that first coaching assignment?

It was my first experience. I joined his technical staff just before the tournament. It was a good experience, being on the staff and learning from those that are in competition with you.

Formenko was a conservative coach. How did you set about building the team after Euro 2016?

The team plays with my views and ideas. We tried to develop the players to play the way we do today. We try to control the possession, build the game and play attractive football. In the last three years Ukrainian players have been improving. We have changed the mentality of the national team, you know, to really develop and display all their technical qualities on the pitch. Ukraine has a great midfield and a very good defence who work but can also build up the play from the back. That is the basis of Ukraine’s game. I have improved the tactical system. We were already aware of the quality of the players. You develop the game in such a way that you can use the best qualities of your players.

Which coach has influenced you the most?

Valeriy Lobanovskyi. He is one of the coaches that changed the history of contemporary football. In my career he was a special person, not just as a coach. Lobanovskyi transformed my talent into a real football player. He gave me a lot of confidence and instructions. He gave my career in football a direction.

How did his philosophy change football in the USSR and Ukraine?

It is impossible to briefly explain his philosophy. He was one of the first coaches to create a training methodology based on science. That is what made him very special. He was a great psychologist as well. He worked the minds of the players perfectly to give them confidence and belief. He created winners and winning teams.