Sergei Yaromko: «We forgot about 10:0 long ago»

Belarus U-21 team head coach answered the questions of the media ahead of the upcoming matches vs Slovakia and Gibraltar.

- Before the official game you have a friendly match with Slovakia. What are the challenges for this match?

- It’s good that we have a friendly match and an opportunity to get together for the training. Maybe the opponent is not the one we would like before the game with Gibraltar. But still, we will model some situations. The end of the season, somewhere the players got tired, someone on the contrary doesn’t get the game practice - on this basis we will vary the squad. We will use as many of the players as possible.

- Not that opponent - you mean that the team is much stronger?

- Yes, you understood me correctly.

- You said that you are gradually building the U-21 team. Are you satisfied with this process? Have you decided on those essential football players around whom the team is being built?

- I will not single out the players personally. The backbone was determined and with each training camp the rotation is not very large. Now Kuchinsky has dropped out due to an injury, Malkevich and Lyakh showed themselves well. Therefore, these footballers are introduced. The place in the club starting lineup was won by Ksenofontov. This is good for us. When a team is being built, some requirements are defined. These are the requirements of an individual plan, of team play, of tactics in defense and attack. If you change players often and a lot - it's hard to build a team. And when 1-2 football players are added, then the team understands clearly  what is required of it. Maybe there are not a lot of bright personalities, but the team itself is formed.

- After the home 10:0 win over Gibraltar, in addition to the victory itself, are there any other goals for the team, for example, by the number of goals?

- The main goal now is to go down from heaven and forget that game. It is most important. If the players can do this, and I hope they can - then everything will be fine. I don’t think about the number of goals scored. Important victory in principle. Cyprus beat Gibraltar just 1-0, the Portuguese defeated them just 4-0. We forgot about 10:0 a long time ago. This is the first thing I will say today at the meeting.

- Are there any working plan for next year?

- You know that we have a game with the Netherlands in March. We discussed this topic with the board of the association - when the budget for the next year is determined, we will plan something. There are already friendly match offers. I think an optimal decision will be made on the timing and the team with whom we will play. I think something will come to light in the near future. But we will will definitely have a friendly match.