In the upcoming UEFA Europa League group stage match on June 17 at 21:00 GMT, Ukraine will face Romania. Before the match, Ukrainian head coach Leibrov said in a press conference that despite the many challenges the team faces, they are still determined to show Ukraine's resilience in the UEFA Europa League.
Rebrov first spoke about injured defender Mikorenko, making it clear that Mikorenko will miss the game as he is unlikely to recover from his injury anytime soon. The coaching staff is closely monitoring his recovery and is looking forward to his early return to the field. At the same time, Leibrov also pointed out that injuries are unavoidable in soccer and the team is ready to deal with them.
Speaking about the upcoming match, Rebrov emphasized the special significance of the match for Ukraine. He said that at this particular time, soccer is not the country's top priority, but the team is still willing to fight for the country's soldiers and fans in distress. They thanked the European countries for their support and assistance and reminded everyone that the war is still going on and Ukraine still needs the help of the international community.
When evaluating the opponent Romania, Rebrov gave high praise. He pointed out that the Romanian team is a team with excellent teamwork and discipline, with many talented young players. He emphasized that there are no weaklings among the Euro 2024 teams, and that every team possesses great strength.
In preparation for the game, Rebrov revealed that the team has watched video footage of several of Romania's matches, focusing on their qualifying and friendly performances. He believes that the Romanian team knows their strengths very well, having fast and disciplined players, which is the key to their success in qualifying for the Euros.
Speaking about the team's preparations, Rebrov said that the players are now better able to understand the coaching staff's expectations and that the tacit understanding and understanding within the team has improved significantly. He emphasized that the team must respect every opponent and focus on each game. While outsiders may see Ukraine as the favorites in the group, Rebrov believes that all the teams in the tournament are very strong and worthy of competing on this stage.
Finally, Rebrov mentioned the effect of the war on the team. He stated that although the war was still going on, the situation rather galvanized the players. They received messages of encouragement from soldiers and friends on the front line, which made them even more proud and determined to fight for Ukraine. Showing the Ukrainian spirit became especially important in this Europa League tournament, as it represented not only the team, but also the whole country.
