Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MIXED EMOTIONS
Father born in Russia, and mother born in Ukraine.. but brave Wolves star Max played at Arsenal while the real battle was raging
BY JOHN CROSS Chief Football Writer
@johncrossmirror
WOLVES defender Max Kilman’s father is Russian, his mother was a Ukrainian catwalk model and he was born in London.
But he put emotions and distractions to one side in a resolute defensive display before his team succumbed to two late goals at Arsenal on Thursday, only hours after the invasion of Ukraine began.
Portuguese boss Bruno Lage says the club is offering the 24-year-old their full support and stressed how the Russian invasion puts football firmly in perspective.
He said: “Of course it can be emotional at times like this but we have professional people to take care of the situation. Wolves care about him and can help if he needs it.
“He was confident in the game at Arsenal and it was OK but if I was in his place, if I was feeling the same things… but for now we need to wait and see how things develop in the next days.
“I hope it finishes today or had not even started at all. This is our life. This is why the good wars are the ones we have here, they last for 90 minutes, congratulations to the other team, they won, it’s finished and we go home and prepare for the next game.
“Football is like this. It’s just a game. We need to take it seriously, there’s a lot of business around football, massive responsibilities, we need to be professional.
“But after the game, it’s a beautiful day, born in this wonderful country and we can’t forget that. That’s why, here in the Premier League, it is so special because it’s just about the games, not about what happened outside of the pitch and we move on.
“That’s why it’s a big pleasure to be here. When we finish, we need to prepare the next one. Not to talk about what happened off the pitch.”
Kilman represented England at futsal, Ukraine made inquiries about his availability last year but his form might put him in the frame for Gareth Southgate. He is left-footed but operates on the right and England need another left-footed defender.
But most of all, Kilman has seized his opportunity at Wolves, slotting in alongside Conor Coady and Romain Saiss after Willy Boly was injured. Kilman has not looked back and Wolves are now pushing for a European place as they prepare to face West Ham tomorrow.
Lage added: “Max took the opportunity at the start of the season, Boly wasn’t there and Max took it in the best way. I’m so proud of him and he knows from me the pressure on him to continue the way he’s working and have the career he deserves because he’s a talented boy.
“We’re working very well, the other two help and they help recover the ball. It’s a good example of the way we defend and work as a group. “The only thing I can promise is the pressure I put on my players is to ask them to continue to improve, play with personality, have no fear in away games.”