Former Dynamo Kyiv defender Vladislav Vashchuk shared his opinion on the upcoming matches of the White-Blues against Fenerbahce in the Champions League qualification.
Vladislav Vashchuk- Dynamo Kyiv players played the last official match in December last year. Will a pause of eight months have a strong impact on the team's performance?
- Of course, without practice, without official matches, it is very difficult to understand what level you are now. Our players will miss the tone. Yes, we can remember that in June some Dynamo players played in the official matches of the World Cup and the League of Nations. But this is far from the whole team feeling the taste of official games. In the calendar game, there is always a struggle for the result. Charity matches are wonderful and necessary at the moment, but this will not force a football player to give everything to their fullest.
— What is your opinion about Fenerbahce?
- Everyone knows that this is the grand of the Turkish championship. Fenerbahce is a strong club with experienced performers. Turkish players are generally very technical. You have to be very careful with them. What I noticed is that often Turkish clubs, when they lose, often surrender to the mercy of the winner. It is very important to lead Dynamo in the score, then it will be easier to deal with the opponent.
- And how do you like the atmosphere prevailing in Turkish stadiums?
“After a long time, I won’t remember everything, but there’s nothing great there. Of course, local fans always support their idols, but they also get a lot when they lose.
— Many Ukrainian fans look forward to Mircea Lucescu's experience in the upcoming Champions League. But Fenerbahce also has an experienced specialist. Jorge Jesus is 67 years old and has coached Braga, Benfica, Sporting CP and Brazilian Flamengo.
— For me, Lucescu was a coach at Shakhtar Donetsk. I don't see him as a coach at Dynamo. In Kyiv, he is a stranger. As for Jesus, he proved a lot to everyone. We saw him a year ago in Kyiv, when he came with Benfica to the capital of Ukraine. That Dynamo - Benfica match ended in a draw - 0:0.
- Is everyone saying correctly that the players, and not the team coaches, will decide everything?
— Head coaches only prepare football players. And already the players on the football field are trying to fulfill it. If you don't complete the installation, you often lose. In football it is.
— If we return to Dynamo. What do the latest failures of Kiev in the games with Lyon (0:3) and Antwerp (1:2) say?
“These are just preparatory matches. To say that Dynamo Kyiv is in great shape right now is not the way to say it. We have a war here. And this also leaves an imprint on the preparation for important matches.
- According to reports, about 14,000 spectators are expected in Lodz on Wednesday in the stands of the King Wladyslaw City Stadium, which can accommodate about 18,000 seats. Will the atmosphere on Wednesday be truly football-like?
- Yes. Everyone understands that international matches cannot be played in Ukraine yet. If so many people come to Lodz for the upcoming meeting, then this is very good. We know that many Ukrainians now live in Poland. They, of course, will support Dynamo in the game against Fenerbahce. We are all waiting for a victory on Wednesday. Both Dynamo and our entire Ukraine need this.
— What score will suit you on Wednesday?
- Any of our victory. Any episode must be turned to your advantage. In every match you need to play to win.
- And who will score goals, Artem Besedin has not yet reached the optimal level...
- Then let other performers score. Whoever feels confident will take responsibility. Football is a team game.
- On Monday, the draw for the third qualifying round of the Champions League was held at UEFA headquarters. The Austrian "Sturm" from Graz is waiting for the winner in the pair "Dynamo" - "Fenerbahce". Who are the Austrians waiting for?
- It is hard to say. Dynamo, in order to get past the Turkish club, needs to be head and shoulders above the opponent. You need to win every episode, this is the Champions League. It seems to me that after playing Lodz, a lot will become clear. We will see both the strength of Dynamo and what the Fenerbahce players are ready for. Then I can answer your question more specifically.
