Former head coach of Kyiv Dynamo Oleksandr Khatskevych told us what he expects from the encounter between Dnipro 1 and Cyprus AEK in the 1/16 finals of the Conference League.
Aleksandr Hatkevich- Dnipro 1 will face Cyprus AEK for the second time this European Cup season. And what is more unusual, Dynamo Kyiv also played with them in the Europa League group, and quite unsuccessfully. What is your opinion about the opponent of our championship leader?
- AEK is still unbeatable for Ukrainian teams. But we know that there is no invincible team. AEK consists mostly of experienced players, and the average age of the team is 30 and a half years - that's a lot. The team has a Spanish coach, who cultivates a football that is far from Spanish. AEK footballers try to apply vertical football, a lot of play through the flanks, you can often see forceful football performed by the leader of the Cypriot championship.
On the last matchday, AEK barely escaped defeat at home to clear outsider - Akritas. The hosts equalized in the 89th minute thanks to Triczkowski. I'm sure that the coaching staff of Dnipro 1 saw that game, but it was not exemplary for the current AEK.
- Composition of AEK, to put it mildly, is very international...
- Yes, that's the reality of our time. The top 4-5 clubs in the Cypriot League of Sita are predominantly foreign players. There is no limit in local football at all. AEK are predominantly played by experienced guys, who have been through a good school of the best European championships. They love to control the ball. Dnipro 1 players need to be patient and wait for their chance, and do not forget that this is a two-match clash.
- What can you say about the coach of the Cypriot team, Spaniard Jose Luis Oltra?
- He has coached many teams at home and last year he moved to Cyprus. I think he is not a bad specialist, who arranges tactics and the game of the team based on the presence of certain players. Playing through the wings, powerful attackers - that's what AEK is today. And they have a good result, both in European competitions, and in the local championship.
- Artem Gromov, just from Dnipro-1 this winter moved to AEK and can play against the Ukrainian club. You should agree that you do not see that often in European competitions.
- I am not personally familiar with Artem, but I know him well as a football player. Gromov is an experienced player. Perhaps AEK football suits him, because the Cypriots often throw the ball behind defenders, in the free zones. Now he needs to learn the language.
- Now let's talk about Dnipro 1. Kucher's charges managed to strengthen without losing any of the leading players. Do you think the leader of the Ukrainian Premier League got stronger?
- First of all, I will say that in October-November, it was clearly visible that the bench of Dnipro-1 was very short. Often there was no opportunity to put anyone on the pitch to step up the game. Now, I think, this issue has been resolved with the arrival of new recruits. As for whether the newcomers will make the team stronger, only official matches will tell. It is clear that Dnipro players will focus on the Ukrainian league. But they also want to prove themselves in European competitions, and earn some money for the club.
- Is Oleksandr Kucher or Yevhen Krasnikov, a sports director, more to credit for the success of Dnipro 1?
- It is a team effort. Kucher is a young specialist, and Krasnikov`s side has experience and football flair. As a football player Oleksandr Kucher has had a lot of experience, but now he is a mentor, and it is different. On Thursday, he needs to choose the right strategy for this clash. It is important that Dovbik and Pikhalenok remain in the team.
- We are facing an extremely interesting encounter in Larnaca...
- Yes, that`s right. I am currently living in Cyprus, and I must tell you that Dnipro did the right thing to come here a week in advance. You also need to get used to the weather. If during the day the thermometer rises to +17 degrees, by 22:00, when the game starts, it drops to 4-5 degrees. And I think this weather will be to the advantage of the Ukrainian team.
- Who is the favourite of the pair?
- It is hard to say now, we will have more information after the first game. Cypriots are in the tone, their championship is in full swing, so our players need to withstand the onslaught of the enemy in the opening game. Still, AEK are not very spoilt by international games, so everything in the hands and feet of Dnipro 1 players.
