Fran Fernandez, head coach of Karpaty Lviv, addressed the media following the team’s third consecutive victory to start the championship.
“Our goal was to start the game strongly from the outset,” Fernandez explained. “In the previous two matches, we struggled with that. Today, we were fortunate to have precise passing, which allowed us to steer the game in the right direction. With the score at 2-0, we also needed to defend solidly because we knew the opponents would push many players into the attacking zone. Accordingly, we had to play reliably and cover for each other. I am pleased with the team’s performance today.”
When asked if the quick goals were part of the plan, Fernandez responded, “We always aim to score goals, and sometimes they come early, other times later. Our objective was to start aggressively, both with and without the ball. Thanks to this approach, we intercepted many balls in the opponent’s half early on. Considering the heat and our lead, we eased off somewhat. We discussed this with the players during halftime. Overall, I liked the match.”
Regarding Yan Kostenko‘s background and his recent form, Fernandez said, “Yan’s father mentioned he has some Spanish or Basque roots. Under my tenure, Yan has contributed 10 goal involvements in 16 matches. I would be happy for any good things that happen to Yan. He is a hardworking player—he plays as he trains. His roots don’t matter here. I have always wanted to work with players like him. I believe he deserves a chance. However, he still has room to improve, even in today’s match. Notably, he has developed in certain areas. The key is that the team must not become complacent. We have many young players like Yan Kostenko and Bruno, as well as some youth prospects and experienced players. There is plenty of room for growth. We must remain ambitious. God willing, our players will receive call-ups not only to the Ukrainian national team but also to other national teams. For now, our main focus is for the team to keep collecting points.”
