Domestic battles messed up everything in the Georgian national team. Aleko Amisulashvili stated he cannot work with Ketsbaia and left the team. Zurab Khizanishvili explained why he left the team and added 22-23-year-old boys will not come to the team because of Ketsbaia.

“World Sport” contacted Jaba Kankava, captain of the national team.

Jaba Kankava: What happens in the team must stay in the team. It is not right to talk to press about it. The talks Khizanishvili-Ketsbaia and Amisulashvili-Ketsbaia should have been held.

- When you heard that Amisulashvili was going to leave the team, did you try to convince him to change his mind?

- No, I cannot make the 31-year-old football player change his mind.

- Did you have conflict with Ketsbaia?

- Yes, but it was not conflict. We talked and decided the issue. I think it is normal. The same happened in “Dnipro”. I did not start talking publicly. There are some talks that the national team has died. Ketsbaia is an emotional person and everybody knows it. He is very emotional at the matches and practices. But I have never heard swearing. Now it seems that we who are in the team bear swearing from Ketsbaia. Everybody knows that a Georgian man does not forgive swearing. I have never heard that Ketsbaia started swearing somebody. Nobody will bear such thing.

- Jaba, is the Georgian team friendly one?

- There is a normal situation. The players respect each other but I want more.

- More what?

- For example, this problem must have been solved inside the team. There must be more respect and love.

- Besides conflicts, what playing problem does the Georgian team have?

- We cannot win decisive matches. It happened against Latvia in the previous qualifying round and now against Finland. Playing quality must be higher. But it is the fault of the players and the coach. We must be more self-critical.

- What can you say about your play in “Dnipro”? We think you are holding the best season in your career?

- It is one of the best seasons but let us wait. The first circle is under way yet.

- Several days ago there was information that you and Nikola Kalinic of Croatia squabbled during “two-net”.

- It was not serious. The situation got tense and the coach sent us to the dressing room. Sometimes it happens. It is not a problem.

- Will “Dnipro” fight for the championship till the end? Does it have potential?

- Our goal is not to become a champion or to get in Top 3. We will try to take the highest place.

- “Shakhtar” was dominant in Ukraine but not this year. Why – have “Dnipro” and “Metalist” got stronger or has “Shakhtar” weakened?

- Perhaps, both. Three leading players left “Shakhtar” – Fernandinho, Mkhitaryan and Willian.

- The Ukrainian national team was close to making through to World Cup. Did you support the Ukrainians against France?

- Yes, I did. My six teammates are in the Ukrainian national team and of course, I wanted them to play at World Cup. I did not expect if they would be dismissed after 2:0.

Ilia Nanobashvili