Levan Mchedlidze is only 20 years old but he has already had ups and downs. He was not able to play for "Palermo" and he left the club in last December. He has not played for 8 months. Now Levani is in "Empoli" of Italian Serie B and he is playing again - he is in the club where his professional career started.
There were rumors why Mchedlidze did not play for Georgian U-21 team in the match against Turkey which was held on September 4. Some people say that Levani did not want to play for Georgian U-21 team. One thing is indisputable - Levan Mchedlidze is a talented player.
"World Sport" contacted Levan in Empoli and he answered all our questions.
- First of all, what can you say about your playing in this season?
- I think, everything is going well. I have not scored goals but I am satisfied with my playing. Soon I will play better.
- You could have scored against "Frosinone" in the first round. But you assisted to Coralli and he scored it...
- Goal assist pleases me. Now it is time for me to score goals.
- How big competition is in "Empoli"? It seems, that Coralli is always playing.
- There was one match where I played and Coralli was a reserve player. We both play often. Now we will hold a match against "Regina".
- As we know, you played on the left wing in one match...
- Yes, in the match against "Ascoli". Coach told me to play on the wing.
- Are not you afraid of injuries anymore?
- Thanks to god, I am fine now. I think it is for the first time, that I have not been injured for a long time.
- What was the reason of your injuries?
- I grew up quickly and muscle growth cannot accompanied the growth in height. I was a child and I was not able to train with the main team of "Empoli". Now I am controlling everything.
- What do you think about the chance of "Empoli" to move to Serie A? You have not lost a match in 9 rounds but still, you are not in group of leaders.
- Six draws are enough. We are not losing but we often play draw. Our main goal is to move to Serie A and I think, we can fight for it. Everyone says here, that Serie B is so tense, that actually championship starts from January. It is true. Like everyone, I want to play in Serie A.
- Are you thinking about leaving "Empoli"?
- No, if I will start thinking about it now, it will be no good for me. I feel good here.
- You were in Serie A when you played for "Palermo"...
- I had conflict with coach there and maybe I did bad for my career when I left "Palermo" but it is past. Perhaps, I did well because when the coach tells you, that he does not need you, it is difficult to bear it.
- Irakli Shekiladze is in the second team of "Empoli". He scored many goals but as we know, he suffered from injuries. How does he feel now?
- He has knee problem but he will start training soon. Everyone likes Shekiladze and I hope, he will be advanced in the main team of "Empoli" soon.
- Subject which is to talk about - you did not arrive to play for youth team.
- When people say that I do not want to play for youth team, I laugh bitterly. There were some cases, when I arrived with injury and played for the team. Everyone who knows me, knows that playing in the name of Georgia is the most precious for me. It does not matter whether it is the national team or U-17 team. This happened before the match between Georgian and Turkish U-21 teams - Otar Gabelia, our head coach, called me up so that, he did not ask me if I was ready. I played against "Frosinone" in the period. Journalist of one of the newspapers asked Gabelia how Mchedlidze played against "Frosinone". Gabelia answered that I played normally. After 3 days, when I told Gabelia that I was not ready to play and I could not have arrived for the match against Turkey, he was asked about me again. This time Gabelia answered this way: "He played very well". There is a big difference between normal and good playing. I was offended. I think, Gabelia could not understand me and he was not right at that moment.
- Of course, you were not ready after such a big break...
- Yes, I was right. I had not played for more than 8 months. I think, before Gabelia called me up and sent me an invitation, he should have called and asked me, whether I was ready or not. Now everyone thinks, that I do not want to play for my country's U-21 team. When I am not right, I always confess it.
- For example, when were you wrong?
- When I left "Palermo". In spite of that, I had a reason of leaving it.
- You may have watched matches of Georgian national team. Do you think, that Temur Ketsbaia will call you up for the match against Slovenia (November 17)?
- I do not know, I have not received an invitation from the team. Of course, I have watched the matches. The team changed a lot and all matches showed that. They have good results. In spite of that, Jaba Kankava and Levan Kenia are injured, Georgian national team held perfect matches.


Ilia Nanobashvili