If Rebrov disappoints again, Shevchenko will seek a replacement in Italy: Fedorchuk shares expectations for 2025.

For this, the Champion spoke with a respected expert. The former coach of Tavriya, Nyva, Mykolaiv, and other clubs, Oleg Fedorchuk, has always been known for his unbiased and candid stance, which he once again demonstrated in his conversation with our publication.

– What can we expect from the Ukrainian national team – both in the context of the spring duel with Belgium and in relation to the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup?

– First of all, I expect consistency. More strategic vision. Not like last year, when we included some inexperienced players in the most crucial matches. A more balanced approach is needed. We should involve both debutants and those who have played for the team before. Of course, it shouldn't be the case that someone takes another's place. Sooner or later, this will affect the results.

What result can we realistically expect from the confrontation with Belgium and in the qualifiers? We must play cautiously against the Belgians. Even to take it to overtime or penalties. Despite Belgium undergoing a generational change, the skill level of this team is higher, and we cannot afford to play open football against them.

What position can we hope for in the qualifying group? I would say that we are, as always, contenders for the 2nd place.

– Will Serhiy Rebrov remain the national team coach after the group stage of the World Cup qualifiers? Do you dare to make such a prediction?

– Rebrov had a significant amount of trust, and that is now gone. If there is a failure against Belgium and an unsatisfactory result in the World Cup qualifiers, in order to quell the anger of the fans, the Federation might take such a step. After all, it’s not just the coach’s job – the head of UAF will also be under fire. Shevchenko is not one of those people who know how to lose. He is a favorite of fate, who loves to win above all. Rebrov is essentially his "project".

And if he sees that his "project" is not performing, he will look for another coach. And I will say that he will look on the Apennines! Yes, the next coach of the national team, in that case, will most likely be a specialist with experience in Italy.

However, the coach of the youth national team is also looking quite good (Unai Melgosa – author's note). There are options. This is not the situation where Petrakov was appointed simply because they were searching and searching – and could not find anyone.

But returning to Rebrov, I want to say the following. I would like him to be more pragmatic. He is very self-confident. And this has played a cruel joke on him. Yes, at the end of the Nations League, he managed to adjust. But I would like him to work that way consistently.

– Let’s move to the UPL. Following the first part of the season, Dynamo confidently holds the lead. Is the battle for 1st place effectively over, or will another club end up at the top of the table?

– The battle will continue until the last rounds. And it will be between Shakhtar and Dynamo. We see that there has already been a transfer market war between them, just like before – for the same players. It will be very difficult to earn points.

Dynamo has far more chances. At least because the "Dynamo players" appear to be a more cohesive and disciplined team. And Dynamo will be focused solely on the championship. So it will be very challenging for Shakhtar.

– Who will secure the other two spots in European competitions by the end of the season, and in what order will those teams finish?

– I believe that Alexandria has practically reserved the 3rd place. Meanwhile, the 4th and 5th positions will go to Polissya and Kryvbas, and they will compete for the last "ticket".

Polissya has very loud transfers. In terms of squad strength, they may only be inferior to Shakhtar – they definitely do not fall behind Dynamo. However, they have two significant drawbacks that prevent them from achieving stability. First of all, it’s the very inexperienced coach. Additionally, the lack of synergy among the players hinders them.

On the other hand, Vernydub is very experienced. He is a coach who works very well under time constraints. He performs well under pressure. Therefore, in this sense, his team is more promising.

– Who do you bet on in the contest for the Champions League victory?

– Here I am somewhat biased (laughs)... Since 1971, I have been a Liverpool fan. I believe that right now Liverpool is the best team in the world. They play with confidence. Something has changed; the team has become more pragmatic. Klopp is a very good coach, but he has been somewhat adventurous. And the team lacked the German pragmatism. It turned out that the Dutchman (current Liverpool coach Arne Slot – author's note) has more pragmatism than the German. Klopp played very expansive football both at Liverpool and at Borussia. That’s his character. And it cannot be that the coach is aggressive while the team is not.

– Which Ukrainian legionnaires in the top European leagues might have an unforgettable or breakthrough season? What are the prerequisites for this?

– There are three of them. This is Trubin. He is very stable. And there is already information that more, let’s say, affluent clubs are interested in him. Also, there is Zabarnyi and Dovbyk. I like how Zabarnyi is progressing. He constantly adds to his transfer value. This is very rare. He is only going upwards.

Dovbyk hasn’t quite hit his stride. He has ended up in a crisis club. So it’s rather 50-50 how it will go for him. His coach thinks more about results than about play. Was it a mistake that Dovbyk didn’t move to Atletico? In my opinion, it would have been even harder there. The style is more pragmatic. Forwards have less time on the ball. And their coach (Diego Simeone – author's note) rarely has forwards who score a lot. Atletico is not the team it was 5-6 years ago. It doesn’t quite meet the status of the third team in Spain that we have become accustomed to.

– Despite the difficult situation in the country, there are plenty of promising footballers in the UPL, players who occasionally attract attention from clubs in stronger and wealthier leagues. Which player or players this year are closest to changing clubs and trying their luck in a stronger league?

– Such footballers are, first and foremost, at Shakhtar and Dynamo. Those who are in the national team. If you are not playing in the national team, you should not expect much attention to your persona. From Dynamo, there’s Shaparenko. Brazhko has really dropped off. Vanat is still too dependent on his teammates, flopped at the beginning of the first part of the season, and most importantly – he hardly plays for the national team. If he at least comes on as a substitute instead of Dovbyk like Yaremchuk does, then the situation might change.

There are good prospects in Mykhavko. He starts attacks well, which is especially valued in England. But he needs to improve his ability to fight, as he is often "overpowered" by strong forwards. This is very noticeable. He needs to work hard on the physical aspect of his game.

– Has Sudakov missed his chance?

– The boy has potential. But he cannot yet count on a move to a top club. He had a false start regarding advertising and PR. However, sometimes excessive advertising only harms the product. A lot has been said, but the advances given have not been confirmed by his performances. Especially for the national team. And even when he played well, it was only for a half – he lacked quality for a full match. Essentially, it was the same in matches for Shakhtar.