Andrea Maldera, head coach of the Ukraine national team, shared his thoughts on the Nations League match against Georgia (0-0) during a MEGOGO broadcast.
“Before discussing the game, I want to sincerely express my support and mentally embrace the city of Kyiv, which today suffered another attack from the terrorist state of Russia. Our hearts are with all the residents of Kyiv and the entire country of Ukraine.”
Regarding the match itself, Maldera acknowledged the challenge of integrating a significant number of new players into a cohesive unit. “The opponent showed us great respect and defended very deep, so we had to play very cleanly and carefully on the pitch. The team demonstrated character and fought until the end, so I want to highlight the positive aspects we saw in this encounter.”
When asked about the goalkeepers, he noted, “Riznyk kept a clean sheet, and so did Trubin. As for the starting goalkeeper position, whether it will be Yermakov or someone else, we will decide closer to the next match. Right now, the focus is on recovery and regaining energy.”
Addressing the team’s reaction to the draw, Maldera emphasized maintaining emotional balance. “You should respond the same way you do after wins or losses—by preserving internal equilibrium. This was an extremely tough match, especially considering the opponent had just changed their head coach, but we were fully prepared for the battle on the field. I remind you that we changed ten players in the starting lineup today, so this result is acceptable overall, and I am satisfied.”
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