Vladislav Kulach: “I would prefer Qarabag”- INTERVIEW

Baku. 6 November. REPORT.AZ/ / Report's exclusive interview with Ukraine’s Vorskla player Vladislav Kulach ahead of the fourth round match against Qarabag in the Europa League group stage due to be held on November 8.

The 25-year-old forward who brought victory to his team in the match in Baku, compared Donetsk Shakhtyor with which he has a contract and Qarabag and specified the name of the Azerbaijani team he would prefer to play for.

- How will the match with Qarabag in Poltava differ from your encounter in Baku?

Naturally, we would like to repeat our success in Baku, since we managed to win in the uneasy match. We were very happy about it. And now we will play before our native fans. We intend to demonstrate our game and continue the series of victories gained in the previous matches.

- Was your kick strong in the match at the Baku Olympic Stadium or was it rather goalkeeper Vagner’s fault?

I think both. Naturally, the ball doesn’t kick the goal without a goalkeeper’s mistake. Vagner really made a mistake. But the main negative thing about the kick was that the ball slid from his hands. On the other side, I believe that he could have caught the ball easily. It was good both for me and the team that the ball hit the goal. Mistakes in football are inevitable. Vagner is a good and experienced goalkeeper. But that kick made us the winners, and this fact makes me happy.

- After that match, when playing Donetsk’s Olympic in the Ukrainian Premier League, you scored the victorious goal. However, that goal caused doubts about its crossing the goal line…

Some say the goal crossed the line, others say it didn’t. In any case, the referee counted the goal and we won 2:1. I believe that it is not important how you gain the victory. The main thing is that we won.

- After that goal some recalled the disputed goal scored by the English team to Germans in the world cup final in 1966 overseen by Tofiq Bahramov…

(laughs - ed.) Frankly speaking, I did not remember that goal. The main thing is victory. After that it is unimportant to discuss whether the ball crossed the line or not.

- Qarabag usually leaves a better impression in the second encounter with the same team than it does during the first match. Do you have any fears that such a thing may happen in Poltava too?

Qarabag is a very strong team. We witnessed it in the first match. There are good players who are able to keep the ball under their control. But we will do everything possible to prevent dangerous moments near our goals and take advantage of goal moments during the attacks.

- The number of fans at your matches in the Ukrainian Premier League is not so high. Do you expect many fans to attend the match in Poltava or you think that cold air will have affect the number of fans?

I cannot say for sure. I do hope that there will be enough fans and they will support us strongly.

- For Qarabag this will be the last chance to continue the struggle. What about Vorskla?

Certainly, for us too. Because every missed point will have a serious impact on our tournament standings. Both Qarabag and we have the chance of making the way out of the group. Therefore, each team will do everything possible.

- According to some views, you had only one chance in the Baku encounter and you took an advantage of it…

We built our game on defense. We understood that Qarabag’s attacks could create a serious threat and great problems for us. Therefore, our coaches chose such a tactics. And it worked. In the second half we passed from the goal moment to other good counterstrikes. We could score again. I think we played accurately in the first match. And we want to demonstrate a better game at home and win again.

- Will you build your game on defense this time too?

There is a long way before the match. It is up to our coaches to decide how we should play.

- How can you explain the development of both Vorskla and you personally in the last matches?

Regardless of the matches, you experience emotional lift in case of victory. As a result, you start to play better in the next matches. Therefore, I link all this to our victories. The victories help to prepare better for the next matches.

- Despite your young age, you have been playing for a sufficient number of teams. You even played as a legionnaire in Turkey. What is the reason of such a frequent change of teams?

Because I belong to Shakhtyor by contract. Both previous and present head coaches of the Donetsk team still do not trust me. Therefore, I have to play for various clubs. However, they do not allow me to transfer to any other club on a contractual basis. Therefore, I extend the term of the contract with Shakhtyor and get rented by other clubs. Let’s see what happens this time. Probably, everything will change soon and I will be signed by the club which I play for.

- But Donetsk city, represented by Shakhtyor, is currently not controlled by Ukraine. The team does not play the home matches at their own stadium…

Naturally, this is a negative case for Donetsk. The team has settled in Kiev. Shakhtyor has a number of fans. Certainly, it is difficult to get without a wonderful city, fans and stadium. I would like to see everything change and Shakhtyor return to Donetsk in the coming future.

- And where did your family and parents settle?

My family is always with me. We had to leave Donetsk. Few of our relatives are left there. I hope to return to Donetsk soon.

- Former Qarabag captain Rashad Sadigov also played for your former club Eskishehirspor. What do you know about him?

Frankly speaking, I know few players from Qarabag. I watched their matches after the start of the European cups and I saw that this is a team of serious players, each of whom is important for their team. Therefore, the match with a very strong rival will be very difficult for us.

- Do you expect an invitation to the Ukrainian squad?

If I am invited, I will join the squad with a great pleasure. I do not know exactly whether I will be called. But I am waiting for that and I hope that it will become real.

- Is the head coach of the national team Andrey Shevchenko expected to visit Poltava and watch the match?

May be, he will. But, of course, it is up to Andrey Nikolayevich to decide what match to attend. On the day of our match with Qarabag, Dynamo will host Czech Jablonec in Kiev. Therefore, I can’t say if he will come to Poltava or not.

- Would you like to play in the Azerbaijan Premier League?

 I haven’t thought about it. But everything is possible.

- Qarabag or Neftchi?

Both are big clubs. But I will probably prefer Qarabag.

- Why?

Because I know more about Qarabag.

- Do you know that it is a ‘refugee team’ like Donetsk’s Shakhtyor?

Yes, I know. Similar cases. I hope that both your and our occupied lands will be returned soon.