Bartulovic: Kharkiv celebrates first historic victory

Kharkiv head coach Mladen Bartulovic has reflected on his team's opening match of the new UPL season, where they secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Veres Rivne.

This match marked the club's first official win under their new name. The manager noted that despite early nerves and a compact opponent, the team successfully executed their tactical game plan.

I congratulate our football club on the first historic victory under our new name. This is our first official win. The first round is always difficult. We understood it would not be an easy game, as the boys had some nervousness. Mladen Bartulovic

Bartulovic explained the specific tactical roles of players like Castillo and Yatsyk, who were tasked with finding space between the lines. He also praised goalkeeper Yermakov’s performance and the impact of substitutes, particularly Ramik, who scored the decisive goal.

Addressing the squad composition, the coach expressed satisfaction with the current level of competition. He confirmed that the club continues to work on strengthening the team, and noted that recent signings like Smolyakov are integrating quickly into the squad's requirements.