“It’s laughable when they say that”: Shevchenko commented on rumors about blocking Yarmolenko's records
Kyiv • UNN
The UAF President dismissed rumors about ignoring Yarmolenko due to his scoring record as jokes. Currently, the winger has 46 goals for the Ukrainian national team.
The President of the Ukrainian Association of Football, Andriy Shevchenko, commented on rumors regarding the non-call-up of Dynamo winger Andriy Yarmolenko to the recent matches of the Ukraine national team, allegedly due to a scoring record, stating that it is laughable to him when people say this. Shevchenko stated this during a press conference at the UAF, UNN reports.
Details
Responding to a question about Andriy Yarmolenko not being called up to the national team for non-sporting reasons, but because he might break the scoring record, Shevchenko replied: "During my career as a footballer, coach, and now an official, I have heard many jokes. This is one of those super-jokes that I've heard. It's even funny when people say it."
Context
The new head coach of the Ukrainian national team, Andrea Maldera, has announced the squad for the friendly matches against Poland and Denmark.
Yarmolenko last played for the national team in the Nations League play-off final against Belgium, coming on as a substitute for Oleksiy Hutsulyak.
Currently, he holds second place for the number of matches played for the national team with 125 games. In first place with 144 games is the traitor Anatoliy Tymoshchuk. Yarmolenko is also the second-highest scorer for the national team with 46 goals. In first place with 48 goals is Andriy Shevchenko.
Previously, there were rumors that the former coach of the Ukrainian national team, Serhiy Rebrov, intentionally did not call up Andriy Yarmolenko so that he would not break Shevchenko's record.
Rebrov himself stated that Yarmolenko's non-call-ups were related to competition on the national team's attacking flanks.
"Because there is very high competition in this position. At the beginning of the championship, Andriy, unfortunately, did not play at all. Now he is scoring and I am very pleased. I wish only the best for Andriy Mykolayovych, so that he finishes the season without injuries,"
It should be noted that this past weekend in Dynamo's match against Poltava, Andriy Yarmolenko scored his 123rd goal in the UPL, equaling Serhiy Rebrov's tally. To break the record of Maksim Shatskikh, who has 124 goals in the UPL, Yarmolenko needs just two goals to become the top scorer in the history of the Ukrainian Premier League.
Recall
Italian coach Andrea Maldera took charge of the Ukraine national football team following the dismissal of Serhiy Rebrov. Previously, Maldera worked for the national team as an assistant to head coach Andriy Shevchenko, who currently holds the position of UAF president.