West Ham news: Andriy Yarmolneko saluted after ‘crazy’ reveal – Mills
Danny Mills has heaped praise on Andriy Yarmolenko for his recent West Ham performances amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Leeds United and England full-back suggested football was acting as a “complete release” for Yarmolenko.
The Ukraine captain, 32, has scored the winner in two of West Ham’s last three games including a stoppage-time strike to beat Sevilla and progress to the Europa League quarter-final.
He told Ukrainian YouTube channel Football/1/2/3 on Tuesday (22 March), as translated by the Daily Mail, that playing has stopped him from going “crazy” over the situation in his home country.
Yarmolenko sent his family to Kyiv the day before Russia’s invasion but they were able to escape back to London via Poland.
“I’ve seen it before with other players, football can be a complete release,” Mills told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“Going out on the pitch, you have that 90 minutes where you can put everything else to one side and actually relax and just play football. For that time, you can switch off completely from the world. There might be a bit of that.
“It’s a nice story, it’s a good story. I think every Ukrainian doing well is being applauded, especially sportsmen and women.
“Whether they are based in Ukraine or not, they clearly have links and ties to atrocities that are going on. We can all see the horrific situation but they will have close friends, families and loved ones out there.
“I think the majority of the world has come together and supported Ukraine in every which way they can.”
In other news, West Ham are to let a £17million star go as Moyes makes up his mind.