Nations League/ Belarus coach speaks a day before the match against Albania and keeps tactics secret: Our goal is to play as well as we can

Belarus is the national team’s first opponent in this new Nations League season.

Coach Goncharenko spoke at the press conference on the eve of the clash with the red-and-blacks, starting with the condition of his players.

“I would say we have had a very positive and energetic atmosphere throughout the camp. This applies both to training and to the theory sessions and communication within the team. The players show a highly responsible approach both in training and in the recovery process. They are doing everything they can to play well in the upcoming matches,” said Goncharenko.

The Belarus coach also called up three players who were not on the initial list, with Goncharenko stressing that the new format conditioned his decision.

“If we had two matches, as is usually the case — for example in June or March — then we might have needed a smaller squad. Given that we now have four matches, which will be played within a short period of time, we need a larger squad. In case of injuries or suspensions, it is important to have enough players ready to take the field in the upcoming matches. That is why we decided to include 23 outfield players and three goalkeepers in this camp,” added the Belarus coach.

As for the formation he will field against the Albanian national team, Goncharenko said his ideas are clear.

“Of course my ideas are clear. A certain formation starts to crystallize during the first matches, when you start observing the players and analyzing different aspects. Then we take into account injuries, who is present at the camp, and so on. Of course, this is mostly the team’s internal work. But we have to draw certain conclusions and communicate them to the players. That is necessary, first and foremost, for the team itself,” said Goncharenko.

The Belarus coach then noted that what matters for his team is to show its best.

“The goal of this whole camp and of the first matches is to show our best. Talking about what we want to achieve after the first or third match is perhaps not right. Our goal is to play as well as possible in all upcoming matches. That applies both to the team as a whole and to each individual player. We must maintain a good level of play from the very first minutes of the match. At the same time, it is important that the players who come on as substitutes strengthen the team as well. A broad squad enables precisely this,” Goncharenko concluded.