Yehor Yarmolyuk is a 19 year old midfielder from Verknodniprovsk. He’s a product of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast sporting schools and Dnipro-1’s academy. He is considered a very promising, young talent. So much so that he made his debut for Dnipro-1 at the age of 16 and became one of the youngest UPL players in history! He was even once dubbed the “new Yarmolenko”.
In summer of 2022, Brentford bought the rising star for an undisclosed fee (~€1.5M) and in July 2023 he signed a new 5 year contract with the Premier League club!
Today Yarmolyuk’s Brentford will take on Zinchenko’s Arsenal at 19:45 in the Carabao Cup.
On Monday (September 25 at 15:00) I was invited to interview the Ukrainian midfielder face to face.
The interview, which would be his first since his move, took place at Brentford’s Jersey Road training ground in West London.
In March, under the tutelage of Ruslan Rotan, the Ukraine National Team used the base to prepare for the game against England. Our interview with Yehor took place in the same changing room that Ukraine used during that very trip.
A move to the Premier League at 18
How did the move to Brentford come about?
Everything happened pretty easily and quickly. I don’t know how long they followed and scouted me for, but I know that they really wanted me. Then negotiations started with Brentford and it all went smoothly. I was very happy as I was given such a great opportunity for myself and for my career.
Can you remember your first few weeks at Brentford last summer? How did everything pan out?
Yeah, I can remember everything. It was an new experience for me. It was my first time in a new team, away from home, but the club helped me a lot with this. They appointed me a (Ukrainian) club employee who has helped me out a lot with everything.
Was there any kind of culture shock for you when you first moved to the UK from a footballing perspective?
The only thing for me was that everyone here (at the club) is very professional here.
How about from a culture shock from anything in Britain in general?
One thing I have noticed is that people do like to spend a lot of time in pubs here.
First season and Brentford B
Was it always the plan that you’d move here and start in the B team? How has playing for Brentford B helped you develop and prepare for the first team?
I think that this was the plan from the beginning and everything went according to plan. I think that the first season with Brentford B was a very good step for me. They helped me a lot to develop and do everything to get into the first team.
Last season, you were very quickly included in a number of first-team training sessions and even matchday squads. Can you explain how this happened? How was it for your development to be involved with them?
Once I started training with the B team, gradually I started to build my form up and before long I was asked to train with the first team alongside a few other B team players. It all happened rather quickly.
What are your memories of your Brentford debut against Gillingham in the League Cup last year?
I won’t hide my emotions – it was scary and I was nervous but once I got on the field, I forgot about all about that, became one with the team and just started playing. It’s a shame that we lost that match.
Can you talk a bit about your injury that kept you out for most of the second half of 22/23? What was it and how was the recovery?
I was in very good form in around January – February time. I had just had some really good matches for the B team. Played 3-4 matches in two weeks and then started training one day and tore my hamstring. It was the first major injury of my career. Recovery was not easy, I spent a lot of time in the gym, but the team helped me a lot with this. The physios and coaches helped a lot; they supported me a lot. Everything was done in order to facilitate my return to the field as soon as possible. I had a schedule for every day and they treated it all very professionally.
What is the infrastructure like at the training base?
It’s fantastic. All the facilities you could want and are at an elite standard. It’s close to home for me, everything is very comfortable. They recently completed a large renovation of the base too. It has everything you can imagine.
What is it like working under the coaches of Neil McFarlane and Thomas Frank? Have you felt that you have developed as a player over the past year?
I believe that they’re two top coaches and with whom it is very, very nice to work under. Neil helped me a lot and prepared me for the first team. I am very pleased with my time under his coaching and very grateful to him. Now I continue to work with Thomas Frank, who is an elite coach who’s helping me develop further. Their lives are dedicated football. They watch every touch of the ball, every training session, watch us closely to ensure that we do everything correctly. There’s a heavy focus on tactics too. To play to their style which has continuity across both teams. They’re footballing men, plain and simple. They live & breathe it.
What was the hardest thing to adapt to after moving to Brentford? How much does it differ from Dnipro-1? Can the two clubs and leagues be compared at all?
Of course it can be compared. The level here is really high; and it’s extremely competitive. What was very difficult for me initially? Definitely language. But now everything is very easy. I can communicate with my teammates and coaches. It’s straightforward because I had four lessons a week with two different teachers. At first it was difficult, but now everything has changed for the better. The lessons still continue as do my language studies.
What are the main differences between football in Ukraine and England?
In England, every game is a big challenge. I believe that every game is highly competitive, every game is has serious intensity. There is no such thing as someone coming out and knowing that they’ll definitely win the game. Every match consists of high intensity and pressure, you’ve got to be totally focused for the full 90 minutes. One lapse in concentration and it can cost you. It’s one of the reasons why i think this is one of, if not the top league(s) in the world. There is no such thing as someone just standing about on the pitch somewhere – always end to end.
The First Team
This summer you were promoted to the senior team. Was that always the plan or were other options considered, such as a loan away, in order to get more playing time?
I worked hard for this and I got it and I am very happy with it. Well, I am very satisfied that I am now in the first team and I really want to be here now. There was no discussion of loans. The fact that I am involved in every away game, every home match is a really positive experience for me and my development. I’m waiting for my (EPL) debut every game. However, we will be patient and wait for the coach to decide when that will be. I will be ready for it when the moment comes!
You’ve trained with the senior team and played with them throughout pre-season as well as the start of this campaign. Which players are you closest to? Who’s helped you settle in the most?
It helped me that we had pre-season in America. Not only getting playing time against other EPL sides but on that tour, I had the opportunity to speak very closely with each teammate and get to know a lot of them. I chat and spend time with them all, I have a connection with everyone. Everyone’s really friendly and here we’re one team, like one family. I have a couple of close friends in the team; such as Yoane Wissa. He even knows a few words in Ukrainian.
What words/phrases have you taught him?
“Pryvit – Hello”, “Yak Spravy – How are you” and “Dobre – Good”
I was at your match against Boreham Wood in pre-season before the US Tour where you played as a box to box midfielder but when I’ve watched Ukraine U19 and U21 matches you play in slightly more attacking roles. Which role do you like better?
I will play as the coach sees me, wherever he puts me, I will play there. I play in the central midfield mainly. However, I can play as a number 6, 8 or even 10; I can play in any of these.
What’s your reaction and take on the team’s the start of the season in the Premier League and in the League Cup?
The start of the season can never be easy or straightforward because this is the strongest league in the world. We expect highly competitive games from all of our opponents in every game but we’ll always give 100%. I think we will fix this situation in time and make it back to the top half very soon. In the Cup, we’d like to go as far as we can!
What are your personal goals for this season and what are your team goals?
I am hoping to get as many minutes as possible in the Premier League following my debut. I want to help the team with my performances and ability on the pitch. We will develop together and try to take as high a step as possible and give a real fight in the cups!
The National Teams
You missed the U21 Euros this summer due to injury. How did this affect your mental state?
It hurt a little, I can’t lie. It was so unfortunate not to be able to go there. It’s a dream for everyone! But I’ve come to terms with it already. This is normal, this is life. The chances of getting to the tournament in the future are still open.
This month saw the start of the new U21 Euro Q cycle and you featured in the 1-0 win over N. Ireland as well as in the 2-0 friendly loss to Germany. You’ve similarly also received a call up for the October window. What can you tell us about Unai Melgosa as your new head coach, his ideas and how the first window under him went?
We have a new team and new coaching staff now. It is not easy and it is no secret that it is difficult to build a team from new. As a coach he is very impressive; he wants to play football with greater focus on passing in the build up. I can highlight that he was always very close with the team during training and extremely vocal, always trying to convey as much as possible to us in that first window.
Did you get the chance to speak with Melgosa one-on-one?
Yeah we talked personally; about what positions I can play, where I can play and how we will play as a team. It was nice to get playing time in these matches.
Have you had a chance to speak with Serhiy Rebrov yet?
We haven’t spoken yet. In my opinion, I think that when I start playing in the first team in the English Premier League, then I will have a chance to play for the senior national team.
Euro-2024 is coming up next year. Do you have ambitions, maybe try to make it into the squad for that, similarly to how Sudakov did at Euro 2021?
Yeah, so the goal is to prove that I can make it there, I’ll be able prove that I can once I start playing for the first team of Brentford.
Life off the field
Have you encountered much support for Ukraine in London and at the club?
I believe that the club is very supportive of Ukraine, for example, they’ve been giving out free tickets to Ukrainian refugees. Our club employee Maria helps with this. I am very grateful to her for helping me and for her help from England to Ukraine. Here, I’ve encountered a lot of Ukrainian flags. British people are very nice to Ukrainians too and I know they have a special relationship with us. They always help Ukrainians and always ask about how it is back home.
Of course, this is not an easy time for our country, so I support our country as much as possible, I have supported it and I will continue to support it. In the club, I am sometimes asked about what’s happening back home and I’m able to tell them the news stories I know. They also sympathise and support me and our country.
How are your family and friends back in Ukraine living and coping during the war?
My whole family is in Ukraine and I have many friends there. I live here with my girlfriend. These are difficult times both for our country and for me because I have not been able to see them for more than a year. We communicate every day with our loved ones back home and support each other.
How is life outside of training and away from the club? How are you adapting to life in London?
I have already completely adapted, there is nothing new for me. Everything is completely like it’s my own. Knowing the language helps with everything.
Do you already drive here? Are you already used to driving on the left side?
Driving on the wrong side, not so much. It is not very enjoyable driving on the left yet for me, but I have a car from Ukraine so it kind of levels itself out. But in all honesty, I am more or less fine when it comes to driving here.
What’s your opinion on British drivers?
Everyone drives a little more calmly here (smiles).
There are several other Ukrainian players plying their trade in London and across Great Britain. Do you communicate with any of them? Do you ever meet up? Has anyone given you advice about living here or vice versa?
Of course, we talk to each other, we are all Ukrainians after all, we keep in touch. I recently met up with Mykolenko and will be seeing Zinchenko at the game on Wednesday.
But we still continue to communicate away from matches too. Both Zinchenko and Mykolenko have given me advice. I’ve listened to it and it’s helped. The first bit of advice Zinchenko gave me last year was to learn the language. Mykolenko advised me to remain persistent and wait for my time, as it will come. Zinchenko came to England at a very young age and has achieved so much. He is someone to look up to both on the field and in life in general.
ZORYA LONDONSK 