Andriy Shevchenko interview

The following interview with Ukrainian international and Dynamo Kyiv striker Andriy Shevchenko was sent via the message board. The interview was published on a Ukranian soccer info page run by a PhD student at Rutgers University in the USA who calls himself Myckola. Any further information on the original source would be welcomed

What is glory and popularity for Andriy Shevchenko?

"The former euphoria passed away. High attention from fans to my person certainly feels good. But it has the reverse side. Unfortunately there are many people who don't understand that anybody should have some rest, some free time. Sometimes I want to walk down the street of Khreschatyk, but it turns into a autograph-show. If I agreed to just a fraction of offers from our fans to have a beer with them, I would have turned a chronical alcoholic by now. So all what is left to enjoy Kyiv from a car. Certainly I like being popular, but I should work hard not to lose it. But it's not only on the pitch, but also beyond it. But people don't care about whether I'm in the mood for giving away autographs or not, But when I'm on the pitch, I forget about it. I have only one mood to win."

Do you know how to lose?

"I don't like to lose very much. I'm a fighter. I will struggle to the end, but not lose. Surely, football is a game and many things can happen. Remember Wembley? I think it was our best game of the season. But we managed only to tie on the last min. No DK player likes to lose. Otherwise he wouldn't play for Lobanovsky. He teaches ?One should forget the loss quickly, but a victory even quicker! The difference is that one should analyze the cause of a loss.? But if losing, it should be done with dignity. This is sport. One should leave the field with honor."

How do you cope with emotions?

"I hide them. I don't like to argue, this is all in vain. The refereeing in Ukraine have risen lately a lot. I'm a team player. I do my best to make the team win. Sometimes they say I'm too greedy and don't give passes in time. This is untrue. Victory means much more for me than my scoring. It happens that I keep the ball too long, but this is not because I'm greedy. All Ukraine waits the "dark words" of Surkis "Shevchenko is sold to Milan" Everything is in God's hands. I hope you know what I mean. But there is one thing, to achieve something with your dear team. To win something for Ukraine. This keeps me here. Because when you fight something out it is much sweeter and satisfaction is much deeper. Money is not the only thing."