--- title: "Goalkeeper Nikita Fedotov: \"Football in Ukraine is tougher than in Spain. My experience in the Segunda helps the team\"" description: "🔥 Nikita Fedotov — goalkeeper of \"Epicenter\" — on the first UPL match in the Khmelnytskyi region, Spanish experience, and goalkeeper psychology: \"Football in Ukraine is tougher than in Spain. My experience in the Segunda helps the team\" ⚽🇺🇦 #UPL #Epicenter #Fedotov" date: 2026-08-08T06:02:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/nikita-fedotov-epicenter-ukraine-spain-goalkeeper-interview-en tags: [ukraine-football, upl, epitsentr, goalkeeper, nikita-fedotov, spain-football, obolon] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Goalkeeper Nikita Fedotov: "Football in Ukraine is tougher than in Spain. My experience in the Segunda helps the team" ![Goalkeeper Nikita Fedotov in Kolos’ bright green kit shows victory sign, demonstrating confidence after match in Ukraine](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/08/nikita-fedotov-epitsentr-ukraine-spain-goalkeeper-interview/nikita-fedotov-epitsentr-ukraine-spain-goalkeeper-interview-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - "Epicenter" played their first UPL home match in Kamianets-Podilskyi since 1995, defeating "Obolon" 3:0. - Nikita Fedotov kept a clean sheet and shared his impressions of the historic match. - Experience in Spain helped Fedotov develop footwork skills and adapt Spanish foreign players to the team. - According to Fedotov, Ukrainian football is physically tougher than Spanish, but less technically developed. - Fedotov emphasizes the importance of psychology for a goalkeeper, especially when waiting for a chance to become the starter. The first round of the new UPL season was memorable not only for sporting events but also for a historic moment for the Khmelnytskyi region. For the first time since 1995, a top-flight match was held in the region — "Epicenter" hosted "Obolon" in Kamianets-Podilskyi. The hosts secured a convincing 3:0 victory, with goalkeeper Nikita Fedotov playing a key role by keeping a clean sheet. ### Historic match and fan emotions For the club and the city, this match was a true celebration. In an interview with Sport RBC.UA, Nikita Fedotov admitted that the atmosphere before the whistle was charged with special emotions: "There were very positive emotions because the fans were eagerly awaiting the team's return to their home walls. For us, too, this was a responsible moment that we were waiting for." According to the goalkeeper, fan support was one of the main factors in the team's success in their debut home match of the season. ### Spanish experience and goalkeeping style Nikita Fedotov is one of the few Ukrainian goalkeepers with experience playing in Spain. It was there that he honed his footwork skills, which are now considered essential for a modern goalkeeper. "This is a skill I train, but there is still room for active improvement. We are working a lot on this aspect right now with our goalkeeping coach and the team," Fedotov noted. He emphasized that in modern football, a goalkeeper must be practically the first playmaker, capable of confidently starting attacks with short passes. ### Goalkeeper psychology: waiting for a chance Last season, Fedotov was not the starting goalkeeper, but when he got his chance at the end of the championship, he immediately made his mark — notably by saving a penalty in the match against "Polissya." "I waited a very long time for my chance after the game against 'Dynamo'. You have to deal with this mentally, because that is the fate of goalkeepers: you may wait a long time for your chance, but you must always be ready for it," he said. Despite playing only four matches in the UPL last season, Fedotov is confident that this is just the beginning of his career in Ukrainian football. ### Team atmosphere and the role of foreign players There are currently several Spanish-speaking footballers playing for "Epicenter," and Fedotov plays an important role in their adaptation. "We have many Spaniards, but we get along well with them. There is a good atmosphere. Someone talks to them in English, I talk to them in Spanish," he shared. The goalkeeper admitted that his experience in Spain helps him be a "connecting link" between the coaches and the foreign players, facilitating communication and the integration of new players into the team. ### Comparing Ukrainian and Spanish football Upon returning to Ukraine, Fedotov noticed significant differences in the style of play. "Ukrainian football looks physically stronger, there is more struggle here, and the nature of the game is tougher. In Spain, this is found in the lower leagues. But in the Segunda and Primera, where there are more qualified footballers, of course, there is more technical football," he commented. At the same time, he emphasized that the mentality in Spain changed him for the better, especially in terms of discipline and approach to training. ### Contradictory data Source ID 1 (sports.ru) mentions the "Epicenter" – "Obolon" match as an event of the 12th round of the Ukrainian championship. However, the main text of the interview and the context of the article refer to the first round of the season. This contradiction requires clarification: it could be about different seasons or an error in the source. At the moment, based on the interview and the publication date (August 8, 2026), it is more logical to assume that the match took place in the first round, as the season has just begun. ### Goals for the season and looking to the future Nikita Fedotov did not reveal specific goals for the season but emphasized that the team strives to play short passes even under high pressure — this is the coach's requirement, to which all players have already adapted. "We try to play exactly like that when there is an opportunity," he added. "Epicenter" has a match against Chernihiv LNZ ahead, and Fedotov is confident that the team will continue to demonstrate confident play, especially in defense. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Ukrainian Championship: Epicenter – Obolon chances for victory in the 12th round match of the Ukrainian championship](https://www.sports.ru/predictions/football/3362156-chempionat-ukrainy-shansy-epiczentr-obolon-pobedu-v-matche-12-go-tura-.html) - Источник указывает на 12-й тур, что противоречит контексту интервью (первый тур сезона). Требуется уточнение. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Where was the first UPL match of the 2026/2027 season held? **A:** In Kamianets-Podilskyi, at the "Epicenter" stadium — for the first time since 1995 in the Khmelnytskyi region. ### Q: How many matches did Nikita Fedotov play in the previous UPL season? **A:** Only four matches, but they were enough to draw attention to his performance. ### Q: Why does Fedotov consider Ukrainian football tougher than Spanish? **A:** According to him, there is more physical struggle and toughness in Ukraine, especially compared to La Liga and the Segunda. ### Q: How does Fedotov help Spanish foreign players at "Epicenter"? **A:** He acts as a link between the coaches and the foreign players, using his knowledge of the Spanish language.