As previously reported, Dnipro-1 lost 1:2 to Cypriot AEK in the first playoff match of the Europa League qualifying round. Your attention to the post-match comments of the head coaches of the teams that met.
Oleksandr Kucher, head coach of Dnipro-1: “We carefully prepared for this match, it was the first official game for us, and besides, it was the first European Cup game for me and for many guys.
We said that we would have blots, and they could be deplorable for us, because this is already a different level than the teams we played against at the training camp during preparation.
And so it happened. There was a lack of concentration, perhaps the experience of the European Cup, and therefore it was difficult in the first half. But during the break, we talked, let Artem Gromov go forward, and it became better for us to go on the attack. We had good chances, we could score more than one or two goals. They could win and lose - but this is football. It was clear that the guys had a desire that they wanted to win and get a positive result. That's what I liked in the second half."
José Luis Oltra, AEK head coach: “Today we have achieved a positive result. All of us before the game would have rejoiced at a 2-1 victory, so we should rejoice now. But nothing is certain in our confrontation with Dnepr-1. The return game in Larnaca is ahead and it will be very difficult for us.
I am very pleased with the first half in the performance of our team, we played very well. In the second half, we had to defend all the time. Dnipro-1 seized the initiative, they have very good players and that's what we saw in the second half. We saw, first of all, their skill in the game.
Dnepr-1 is a very strong opponent, with very strong players. We did not seek to change anything during the break of the game. During the break, I told the guys that we have a great opportunity to win, to score more, so we should not change anything in our game. And we haven't changed, but Dnepr-1 has. They started pressing harder, started playing more aggressively, and we couldn't always handle it.
However, I am optimistic about the future in the context of the second leg. I hope that the atmosphere in Larnaca will be very good, we will be able to show a positive result and play the way we did today in the first half. With verticality in the attack, with an attack in space and with dynamics - all this is exactly what we did well today. I hope that we will show just such a game in Larnaca.”
