Problems in the Defense of Ukraine's National Team: Vitaliy Kvartsyany's Opinion

Renowned Ukrainian coach Vitaliy Kvartsyany, who previously led the Volyn team, has expressed his concerns regarding the defensive problems that currently afflict the national football team of Ukraine. According to him, central defender Illia Zabarnyi does not match the level demonstrated by his predecessor, Yevhen Khacheridi.

Kvartsyany pointed out that there is a serious issue with defenders in Ukraine and emphasized that he is unaware of players who could compare to global stars like Virgil van Dijk. 'We have a very significant problem with defenders. I do not see anyone like Van Dijk among us. A central defender should be 196 cm or taller,' he stated.

The coach also shared his thoughts on left-back Mykola Mykolenko, noting that while he possesses certain reserves for development, Zabarnyi, in his opinion, is showing a decline in his game. 'As for Zabarnyi, he has experienced a downturn: he plays poorly in the air and makes positional mistakes. If he continues to sit on the bench at PSG, he will gradually lose his level and spot in the national team when strong and tall defenders emerge,' Kvartsyany added.

Kvartsyany compared the skills of Zabarnyi and Khacheridi, asserting that they cannot even be compared. 'Khacheridi had a wind blowing in his head, but in terms of skill, he was beyond competition. Khacheridi and Zabarnyi are like night and day; their skill levels cannot be compared, Yevhen is three heads taller,' he emphasized.

Furthermore, Kvartsyany underscored the importance of a solid back line for the team, noting that players like Khacheridi or Demyanenko were exemplary figures. 'The back line must be solid — like Khacheridi or Demyanenko. Luzhny would run back and forth 20 times from goal to goal! But now we have no such players,' the coach stated.

It is worth recalling that Illia Zabarnyi currently plays for the French club PSG, which is considered one of the best teams in the world. In contrast, Yevhen Khacheridi, who began his career at Volyn, spent ten years (2008−2018) with Kyiv's Dynamo, where he gained significant popularity.

Previously, Kvartsyany has also commented on Dynamo players who have the potential to become leaders of the Ukrainian national team, emphasizing the importance of developing young talents for the future of the team.