Well-known Ukrainian journalist Artem Frankov spoke about the chances of Ukrainian clubs in the group rounds of the European Cup tournaments of the current season.
Artem Frankov“The discussion about the chances of our teams in the European cup group tournaments arose immediately after the draw, long before the stunning debut of Dnipro-1 and Dynamo in the military championship of Ukraine. It is clear that no one has and does not have the slightest illusions about the chances of the legionnaire Shakhtar in the Champions League, Dnipro-1 aroused interest and hopes only with a crushing victory over Dynamo, but the disputes about the chances of the Kiev team went immediately and tastefully. With such optimistic relish!
Personally, I immediately and angrily spoke in my telegram channel about the notorious “must pass” - they say, why the hell is Dynamo OBLIGED to do Rennes?! It is clear that one can and should think about it, hope, wish, count, set a task and even demand like a fan, but to speak in all seriousness about OBLIGATIONS is nonsense. (I’m silent that in each of the baskets, the people of Kiev had simpler options, but about the draw and rivals - separately and in more detail.)
Even before the war, the second team of Ukraine was not OBLIGED to pass the fourth team of France. Two Cups of Cups and a lot of championship trophies in the club museum have nothing to do with this, but a single Breton club has no less money, and the championship in which it takes part is much stronger and is included in the notorious Top 5, "big five". If you don't believe me, take a look at the UEFA coefficients table. Not so long-standing meetings in the Europa League, when Dynamo, having played their best matches under Alexander Khatskevich, beat Rennes twice, also have nothing to do with it and only allow for an elementary analysis: who has become stronger over the past four years, and who , unfortunately, - hardly. Not to say harsher and more frankly...
So, stop, in no case do I cancel the desire to see our clubs and, in particular, Dynamo at the top of all kinds of tables. I emphasize again and do not allow myself to be misinterpreted: no problems, no weaknesses, no shortcomings in the game prevent us from dreaming of victories and asking players, coaches to do everything and even more for this. I yell with all my might: “Forward! Only forward! You can!!!" This is indeed their duty to the fans, to the country, to themselves and their idea of duty and professionalism. But one should not confuse NECESSITY and OBLIGATORY. The second sins too much with a misunderstanding of the alignment of forces in today's football and frank empty talk. Although you, of course, have the right to it too - if you really feel like joining the ranks of these "obligations". It is impossible to forbid chatter - it can only be exposed to the best of your ability.
Another highly controversial, but furious thesis that happened to be faced: they say, I am here three times a day and two more times at night I carry a paralyzed grandmother in a bomb shelter on the backs, and these football players experience DIFFICULTIES?!
First, I didn't hear any of the players complain. Secondly, thirdly, fourthly, and most importantly, understand, my dears, penetrate and realize: we have a common grief, and it is very wrong to measure who is more difficult than everyone and who is easier, pushing everyone into separate shelves.
This is no time for such, excuse me, quirks - with all the sympathy for each individual tragedy. If only because it’s harder, I think, after all, first in the trenches, and then already in cities under fire, and then they have places of different degrees of danger and probability of arrival. It is clear that in this regard it is calmer abroad, in Kyiv, for example, it is more reliable than in Kharkov. Only the devil tear it apart: our football players, not with our fellow citizens, will have to organize a competition! They are destined to fight with well-fed, cold-blooded, not worried about anyone and perfectly prepared foreign rivals!!!
Once again, without fear of repetition: not with ours, who are in the trenches and shelters, but with the Turks, French and Cypriots, who have no war, all relatives and friends are at hand and safe, and the home stadium is actually located in the same city to which the club is assigned.
And because the logic that Dynamo, miners, Dnipro, etc. is easier than the conditional Ivan Petrusenko or Panas Rabinovich does not work. They are not playing with you or your long-suffering grandmother. Nobody - not me, not "Football", not anyone else! - does not claim that the footballers are worse off than the rest of the Ukrainians: that would be the height of stupidity. But they are really worse than their foreign counterparts, and this, in my opinion, is quite obvious. So do not distort and, if possible, do without aggression - more precisely, translate it to the correct address, in a known direction.
In a word, the Thursday and Friday draws set new and very difficult tasks for our clubs, the solution of which will be worthy of the most enthusiastic words, epithets and compliments,” Frankov wrote in the latest issue of Football magazine.
