The Ukrainian Viktor Tsygankov (Nahariyya, Israel, 1997) found in Girona the escape route to escape the war and enjoy football. Eight months after leaving his country, he explains how he has adapted to fit perfectly into Míchel’s team.
The Dovbyk-Tsygankov connection is already being discussed. Are you a well-synchronized tandem?
We play together with the Ukrainian national team and we know each other well, also having played against each other. We know what our best and worst skills are, I think that’s enough to understand each other on the pitch. We want to do the best we can for the sake of the team.
How would you define Dovbyk?
He is a great scorer. He is strong, fast, aggressive in attack… and has a good connection with the midfielders. He gets along well with the rest of the players. With me too, of course (laughs). We can talk to each other and understand each other, so it’s easier to play on the pitch.
Is he fitting in well with the team?
It’s too early to tell, but I think he’s already adapted. He doesn’t speak Spanish, neither do I, although the coaching staff and teammates constantly help us so that we can give our best in training and matches. His adaptation is being easier than mine because he also counts my help. I think he’s doing well, he’s happy.
You didn’t have that advantage of knowing someone here. How were your first months at Girona?
(Sighs). The only Ukrainian in the team was Julius (in charge of equipment) and the truth is that he helped me a lot. I think it’s getting easier for Artem because he has Julius and me, and as I said, everyone at the club helps us so that we can perform at our best.
Was Julius a support in the beginning?
All the time. Always. He helped me a lot and I thank him very much. Although Julius still continues to help us, now also Artem. We are very lucky to have him.
The videos must have helped him a lot to understand Girona’s game. In the end, it’s football even though I don’t speak the language.
Even now In the end it’s what it says, it’s football and you can understand the tactics even if you don’t speak the language. In case we don’t understand, someone will explain it to us in detail. That’s why there is no problem. We know what the coach wants from us.
Do you understand all the concepts and what Míchel explains?
I practice the concepts in training, also through the videos they teach us. We understand each other more and more, apart from the fact that I am getting familiar with Spanish. Little by little. It’s very difficult for me, but I’m doing my best to learn it as soon as possible.
Míchel talks about making history. What is your goal this season with Girona?
My goal is to win every game. I try to give my best at every moment. Sometimes we will win and sometimes we will lose, but what is clear is that we want to improve on what we did last season. I think the ultimate goal is to play in Europe next year. It would be positive for the club, which would make history, and for us. I want to constantly improve: play better, score more goals, give more assists… I’m never satisfied.
In front of Real Sociedad, Stuani stood behind and Sávio stood on the right. How do you feel more comfortable: playing in the middle or on the right wing?
The coach decides. He knows my best skills, as well as those of Stuani or Sávio. Each match is different, so tactics can vary depending on the opponent. I feel comfortable in all positions. My favorite is on the far right and I think that’s where I can contribute the most, but that’s it. I will play where Míchel says and I will try to do as well as I can. It depends on the match and the opponent.
What do you like more: scoring goals or providing assists?
Half and half (laughs). What I like is when my team wins. That’s why I do whatever it takes to help him take the win.
What does a player of his level do in a modest club like Girona?
If I’m honest, I don’t know what my level is because I’m a footballer. I don’t like to talk about myself, I prefer to dedicate myself to playing and demonstrating my abilities on the pitch. Then people can judge if I’m good or not.
Did Pere Guardiola have anything to do with his arrival?
For sure. He did a lot for me to come. He actually led me here. I think he was one of the most important people for my transfer to happen. He told me a lot about Girona and told me that both the club and the coach wanted me, which I considered. The footballer wants to play where they really want him. This is the most important.
You, Dovbyk, Yangel Herrera… have revalued the team. Do Girona fans have the right to dream big?
Dream big? We must always dream big. Everything is possible in football. I think we have a very good team and a good working environment. I think we can achieve beautiful things for this club.
Has Girona found the place to enjoy football?
I’m having a great time here, a lot. I enjoy it the most, but I think Dovbyk and the rest of the players do too. It is a club where people work very well. We all understand Míchel’s idea and feel identified with it. It is key.
He recently became a father. Was your child born in Girona? How do you live this new stage?
Yes, he was born in Girona. I don’t quite know how to describe it, but it’s a new stage that you’re never ready for. My wife and I are very happy, we enjoy every moment at home with Leon (his eyes light up). It can’t be described…, it has to be experienced.
His dog is also very integrated into the team. Whose idea was it to participate in your presentation?
I can’t quite remember who it was, but someone told me that it might be good to have Lucky come to the photo shoot and it was really fun. We came from a complicated experience in Kyiv, so it was nice to be all together at the presentation of Montilivi.
He was in Ukraine when the war broke out. No one should ever experience this situation. The news does not teach the whole reality
The situation that Ukraine is experiencing touches him very closely…
Of course. I was there when the war started, so I know very well what it is about. It’s really hard for all the people who live there. We suffered a lot with my family when we were in Ukraine, it’s a situation that no one should ever have to go through. We must help the Ukrainian people, my country, every day, because without our help this story will have a very sad ending. We must be infinitely grateful to our brave warriors who protect Ukraine all the time. Without them, I don’t want to imagine what we would be like.
Do you know someone who had to go and fight at the front?
None of my family and none of my friends either. Yes, friends of my friends have gone there.
When was the last time you went there?
When we played the last match with Dinamo, at the beginning of December 2022. I already knew that he would sign for Girona.
Here we only know about the war what we hear on the news and see on television. Is the reality in Ukraine the same?
I think the news doesn’t teach the whole truth about war. The reality is that every day some misfortune can happen, maybe it is happening right now, there is no calm moment. It’s very complicated.
Is hope the last thing to lose?
Hope to win? Of course. We are waiting for our victory. Our warriors do everything to get it. For sure we will win, for sure.
Is the help and involvement of the rest of the countries of Europe and the world enough?
We need them. Without your help it would be even more difficult. If someone is willing to contribute more, we will be very grateful, but it is not up to us. I think the most effective way to help is through financial contribution because with the money the Ukrainian government will be able to buy weapons to protect our people from Russian attacks. There are people who have lost their homes, relatives…, these are irreparable losses and little can be done apart from sheltering them or giving them food. I’ts horrible. If someone can give help, just give it.
First it was the pandemic, now the war… How do you follow football in Ukraine?
The current situation of football in Ukraine is very complicated. Football there was fine until the conflict in Donetsk started in 2014 (Donbass war), after that everything started to fall apart. It’s like this. After that, many players left the country.
How is a party in Ukraine today? And what was it like before?
Stadiums used to be full to overflowing, there were big fights on the pitch, people were having a good time and cheering for their team, just like here. Now there is nothing left of that. We have no fans in the stadiums, which are empty and without any kind of emotion. It’s a bad moment, both for the country and for football. I hope that when we win the war, everything will go back to normal and people can go to the stadiums to celebrate with their teams.
His father was also a footballer. Was he the one who introduced him to the world of football?
exactly From the first day I started running and walking, he gave me a ball. I used to play with him as a child.
He was born in Israel because his father played there. When did they move to Ukraine?
I lived in Israel until I was 6, then we moved to Ukraine and I was educated there.
His father was a goalkeeper, but when did he realize that he could follow in his footsteps and become a professional footballer?
I always wanted to be a professional footballer. I started at Vinnytsia, my hometown club, and then joined Dinamo. My father is an example for me. Since he was a footballer, he has always helped me and given me a lot of advice. Even when I went to live in Kyiv. He stayed a year or two in the village until they came with my mother and sister to Kyiv with me. Despite the distance, he always tried to help me.
Girona’s signings are already paying off
Did they train together?
Of course! We have made a habit of training at home. From saves to shots. He has helped me with everything he can and continues to do so.
He made his debut for the Ukrainian national team in the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Finland. What does it mean to you to play for your country?
It means everything right now. I am proud to represent my country and be part of the national team. We have to show people that we are strong and get that message across. Even if we are playing, there are many things we can do. It’s a way to make it clear that our life goes on and so does football. Our warriors love football, they need to see that we are hungry and that we will fight for them on the pitch just like they do for us on the ground.
Playing in the World Cup must be the dream of every footballer…
Of course! I hope to be able to play in the next World Cup. We think we will qualify.
Last season he stayed at the gates of the Conference League with Girona. He has experience in the Champions League and the Europa League with Dinamo, would he like to play in Europe with Girona one day?
It is one of our goals. We have a very good level to improve and see how far we can go. We compete head-to-head against all the teams. It would be a perfect season if we qualify to play in Europe next year. Who knows…
2023-08-17 04:30:23
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