Q&A: Mykolenko On Love Of Chess and Ndiaye Connection

Vitalii Mykolenko sat down to discuss his passion for chess and his on-pitch relationship with Iliman Ndiaye...

Let me ask you about your love of chess. Is that something you've been doing since you were a kid?

I started to play when I was 11 at training camp. But then I forgot about this game, to be honest. One year ago, we started to play before the game, just for fun.

I've got the chess.com app, sometimes we play on there with some of the lads from dressing room, and we've got a chess board in the dressing room.

Before training sessions, we usually play chess. Not every day, but usually I play with Michael Keane. He's very good, we played today and I won on time, so it's very tough at the moment.

Who are your other rivals for the title of Grandmaster in the dressing room?

Michael Keane and Merlin Röhl.

What appeals to you about playing chess? Is it a relaxation? Is it something that strategy kind of is like football?

It's not like football, but I like to play chess because I can relax in this game. Sometimes not because it's competition as well.

I play on my phone and it is a competition, you have to get more and more [ELO] points, a better level. I think my brain is switching on when I play chess. In the morning, I used to play chess before the game, I like it.

When you retire from football, is there a career, a second career?

I don't think so, no. It's my hobby, not a career.

What were your first impressions of Iliman when he first signed for Everton?

I don't remember the first few weeks when he joined us, but then when he started to play a bit more with me on our side, I just understood.

If you play the ball to him, he can make everything, he can create, he can do anything with the ball. I think he's the most skilful player in the Premier League at the moment.

How do you play to his strengths?

Just play to his feet, so it's easy. Then, he will create everything from a few yards, he needs just a few yards. If you've seen his skills, it's incredible. I don't like to play against players like him.

Of course, he has gone down in Everton folklore. He scored the last two goals at Goodison Park. Does he know how much the fans appreciate that?

Maybe international players don't understand this as much as Seamus Coleman, but definitely, they were very important goals and [a very important] game for me, for Iliman and for the fans as well, so I think he knows it's very important for our supporters.

He has a big future, I hope he will play for Everton for many years.