Denys Marchenko on his Karpaty move, U21 Euro run and the Rybka influence

Denys Marchenko has closed the book on his time at Obolon Kyiv. The goalkeeper, who came all the way through the youth ranks, signed for Karpaty Lviv in the early summer. Karpaty had recently sold one of their own talents to Slavia Prague, underlining their track record of giving youth a chance. Marchenko admits the decision to leave Obolon was not easy, but he clearly sees the move as the next step. Marchenko is a regular for Ukraine's U21 side and was part of the squad that reached the top four at the U21 European Championship in Wales this year. Reflecting on his development, he says the jump from youth football to the senior game is about much more than talent. The speed, responsibility and competition all change, and he credits the coaches and older teammates at Obolon for helping him adjust. The message he took from those years: learn every day and take advice on board. His first official game for Obolon's first team remains fresh in his memory. There was some nervousness, but in the tunnel before kickoff his focus was on making a solid start and playing with composure. After the final whistle, the goalkeeper coach supported that mindset and told him to keep going. Marchenko also spoke about sharing the goalkeeping unit with Oleksandr Rybka, one of the best goalkeepers in the country and a multiple-time champion of Ukraine. He said the most valuable lesson came from Rybka's mentality: every goalkeeper makes mistakes, and the key is to switch focus immediately rather than carrying the last goal into the next attack. The hardest moments, he admits, were the games in which his own errors affected the result. Those matches hurt, but they also teach the most. He believes such experiences are necessary for a young goalkeeper to grow.