The former sports director of Minay, Mikhail Kopolovets, commented on the yesterday's defeat of Dynamo Kyiv in the group stage of the Europa League against the Turkish Fenerbahce (1:2).
Mikhail Kopolovets— Mikhail, what do you think is the reason for Dynamo's defeat yesterday?
— I have a feeling that something is going on inside their team. The boys tried hard, but conceded in stoppage time. They should probably go to church, it helps everyone. Without faith, you cannot enter the football field. Although I thought that Dynamo would look better than other Ukrainian teams in European competitions this year. The team is more or less balanced, the composition has been preserved. Almost none of last year's squad left, except for Verbic. I didn't think that Shakhtar would shine like that. Before the season, I gave a forecast that Dynamo would play more consistently.
— Can we say that Dynamo ended up in a bad psychological state after a series of unsuccessful results?
— Something is happening within the team. Perhaps the microclimate was disturbed within the team. Five defeats in a row is a psychological hole.
— Did the absence of the main pair of central defenders affect?
“It is clear that this also had an effect. Fenerbahce is a strong team, their fans are well supported at home. The absence of Zabarny is a loss for Dynamo, taking into account the game that he showed. But there is a feeling that there is a whole range of problems in the Kyiv team.
— Yesterday Nikolai Shaparenko was seriously injured and was out for a long time. Is this a big loss for Dynamo?
- In a team like Dynamo, a bet cannot be made on one player. The season is long. At any moment, someone can get hurt. Such a team should have two equal members. Shaparenko's injury is, of course, a loss. But there are many young players in Dynamo who can come to the fore and begin to progress. It’s hard for me to say who exactly can replace Nikolai.
— What are the prospects for Dynamo and Dnipro-1 after yesterday's defeats in the group stage of European Cup tournaments?
- Everything is just beginning, there are always chances. Dnipro-1 has a good promising team. There is a good set of young players. Now football has leveled off, everyone knows how to play it. I think that both of our teams can still improve the situation.
— European Cup matches are broadcast in Ukraine on a paid platform. Do you think this is correct?
— I would like all matches to be shown for our people for free. But there are people who are interested in making money from it. Look at Usyk. He is handsome! He took it and made it so that the broadcast of his fight was free for our people. In football, there are always some problems with broadcasts. In relation to Ukrainians, it would be fair and honest for the matches to be shown for free. Perhaps Europeans could take a more loyal approach to this issue, meet halfway so that broadcasts are at least a little cheaper. Football is a small outlet for people during the war.
Andriy Kaplun
