Ivan Kalyuzhny: "It's good to start the season with a victory"

The midfielder of "Kharkiv" Ivan Kalyuzhny shared his impressions of the hard-fought victory over "Veres" (1:0) in the first round of the UPL.

The match took place in the suburbs of Kyiv. The only goal in the game was scored by Kharkiv player Ramik Gadzhiyev in the 90th minute of the match.

– How do you assess the start of the season for Kharkiv?

– It's good that we started with a victory. The game was tough because it's very hot now, tough weather, but the conditions are the same for everyone. We need to show the game and better football.

– Even in such hot weather, Kharkiv had 15 shots. They resisted, pressed, created chances. What was missing? Why didn't you score earlier, because the club president was already nervous there.

– Of course, we also wanted to score a goal earlier, but that's football. We tried to score, but the goalkeeper played well, we studied the goalkeeper. But it's good that we scored in the end.

– How is the team's physical condition now? Endured 90 minutes, even in such heat.

– I think we prepared well, endured. But there is room for improvement, we need to give the game an even higher tempo to make it a bit easier to play.

– Have the team's goals for this season been discussed? Perhaps, championship, cup, higher places, cup positions?

– It's a secret, the discussion will remain between us.

The next match for "Kharkiv" will take place on August 8. The opponent of Mladen Bartulovich's team will be "Polissya".