Dnipro-1 midfielder Oleksandr Pikhalyonok commented on his team's big victory over Dynamo Kyiv (3:0) in yesterday's match of the 2nd round of the Ukrainian Championship.
Alexander Pikhalenok. Photo - scdnipro1.com.ua- Oleksandr, how did you manage to defeat Dynamo, and even with such a score?
- We had a good mood for the game, and we played very organized. That is why we managed to defeat Dynamo.
- What did Kucher say before the match, how did he set up the team?
- He said that there would be a very difficult fight after a difficult match in Cyprus. We lost to AEK 0:3, although we played well, but luck was not on our side. Against Dynamo, we proved with our game that the result of the match in Cyprus was an accident.
- Specifically, did the coachman set some task for you for the match?
- Yes, I did, but this is already our internal football kitchen.
- You became the hero of the match: you scored a goal, scored an assist. Remember these moments.
- At the moment with my assist, we played a corner, I saw that Sarapiy was running into the zone, served and he scored a good goal.
When I scored, Gutsulyak launched a good attack, found Busanello, Gromik and Dovbik took the players away, I stayed at the 11-meter mark and closed the pass.
— Did Dynamo surprise you in any way?
- We knew how they would play. But knowing and doing are two different things. But we managed to fulfill everything that was required of us.
- What emotions were in the locker room after the match? What did the coachman say?
— There was a great atmosphere in the dressing room. We really needed this victory after two defeats in the Europa League. I think she will give us strength and self-confidence and, God forbid, that this is transferred to the next matches. The coachman thanked us for the game and said that we had done everything we agreed on before the match.
- What is the goal of Dnepr-1 this season?
- Our goal at least in the Premier League is to get into the top three, and then we'll watch. And in the Conference League - leave the group.
— Dnipro-1 defeated Dynamo 3:0. Have you thought about fighting for the championship?
- Let's see how it goes. So far, the management has not voiced such a goal to us. But I think that Dnepr-1 must be at least in the top three.
- Let's touch on a sore subject. What did Dnipro-1 fail in the matches with AEK?
- We played well, created chances, but the execution let us down. You can’t let such teams go first, because then they sit deep in the defense, which is hard to open. The Cypriots also have a very experienced team with good players. We could turn the tide of the fight, but we didn't get lucky, we didn't convert our chances.
- Against Dynamo it seemed that it was much easier for Dnipro-1 to play than against AEK.
- We played a little differently against Dynamo. We tried to play first against the Cypriots, put pressure, and they sat down. And against Dynamo, we didn’t press very high, we met them in the second zone.
— Dynamo will play against AEK in the Europa League. What do you think, what are the chances of the people of Kiev?
- I think Dynamo will win. The class of players is higher.
- Before the start of the championship, many said that Dynamo would be the undisputed favorite for the championship. What will you say now?
- It's too early to judge. It was only one game, the whole championship ahead. Dynamo is Dynamo, and Shakhtar is Shakhtar. They are always favorites and hard to play against. The whole fight is still ahead.
Andrey Piskun
