© EuroFootball.com
VMFD "Žalgiris" newcomer Andrius Skerla was officially introduced at a press conference held on Tuesday.
In attendance at the conference held at the Vilnius city municipality were not only A. Skerla, but also VMFD "Žalgiris" sports director Mindaugas Nikoličius, team coach Damiras Petravičius, as well as Virginijus Dastikas, secretary of the Vilnius City Council and a member of the VMFD "Žalgiris" board.
"I am happy for the opportunity to return to Lithuania and represent the Vilnius city football club 'Žalgiris'. This is where I started my football career, and I hope to finish it here after a few years. Now I want to be useful to the team and help them achieve their goals," said A. Skerla, who has returned to 'Žalgiris' after a 16-year hiatus.
After a winter injury, the footballer is recovering quickly. "My health is improving. I have been training with 'Žalgiris' for two weeks now. I missed the preseason preparation stage, so it is harder for me now than for others. However, I believe that in a few more weeks, I will be properly prepared," says the footballer.
The longtime Lithuanian national team defender is not afraid of competition. "Competition is necessary for the team. It does not allow players to rest on their laurels. 'Žalgiris' has two good center backs, but they also need to feel that the third center back is always breathing down their neck and ready to replace them. For this reason, players must strive to play even better," says the experienced player.
A. Skerla believes that the level of the Lithuanian championship has improved in multiple aspects. "I am pleased with the improved level of the Lithuanian championship. Now you can find not only a lot of information but also watch video broadcasts of any match. This is very important for all football fans, especially the most loyal fans of the teams. Progress is also visible in the game. I have watched several 'Žalgiris' team matches and was impressed by them. Improved stadium infrastructure also contributes to better gameplay. Nowadays, coming to a stadium in Lithuania is really worth it," said the 'Žalgiris' newcomer when describing positive changes in Lithuanian football.
The football veteran believes that the lack of aggression led to the defeat of the Vilnius team against Panevėžio "Ekranas" 0:1.
"'Žalgiris' lacked aggression in the last matches. This is especially important when playing against 'Ekranas' in Panevėžys. Teams play differently away than at home. This is evidenced by the fact that the leading teams only experienced defeats on their opponent's field. The season has just begun, so we will see both wins and losses," says the defender.
Once again, the footballer confirms his decision not to represent the Lithuanian national team anymore. "My decision is final. I believe the national team does not have any problems in the defense line, as the players in those positions are of high mastery. The midfield and attackers are more of a headache. In attack, we lack creative players who can score goals. I am glad that the new coach works honestly and actively shows interest in Lithuanian footballers," says A. Skerla.
Bringing A. Skerla to the Vilnius team will give the coach greater freedom in player rotation. "The new player will be useful to us. We have good defenders, but we must not forget that the championship is long. Acquiring a third-grade defender will allow us to rotate the lineup more freely. Tired players will be able to rest more often. We have prepared a special program for Andrius. He must work hard to return to the field properly prepared. The long-term experience accumulated by this player will be very beneficial for the team. I congratulate Andrius on joining our team," says Damiras Petravičius.
VMFD "Žalgiris" Sports Director Mindaugas Nikoličius states that the team's reinforcement came earlier than expected. "At the season opening conference, we mentioned that the team could be supplemented by one more player. That new player in our team is Andrius Skerla. We expected him to join us in the summer, but due to certain circumstances, Andrius became a 'Žalgiris' player now. We hope that the integration of such an experienced player into the team will help achieve the set goals. His authority is already felt by the youth. Most likely, there will be no new players until summer. At the end of June, the transfer window will open and then, before the start of the Europa League competition, we may receive reinforcements," said M. Nikoličius.
Vilnius City Council Secretary and member of the VMFD "Žalgiris" board Virginijus Dastikas believes that A. Skerla will help improve the team's game. "We are supporters of the VMFD 'Žalgiris' team, so we are very pleased with the successful start of the season. It is unfortunate that we lost to Panevėžio 'Ekranas' on Saturday, but we still have plenty of time to improve the game. The addition of a new player to the team should help with that. I wish success to Andrius and the entire team," said an optimistic V. Dastikas.
