Valeriy Kriventsov: "Nothing is lost for Dnipro 1. All the fight against AEK is ahead".

Former Ukrainian national team and Shakhtar Donetsk player Valeriy Kryventsov commented on Dnipro 1's defeat against Cyprus AEK (0-1) in the first leg of the 1/16 Conference League final.

"Everyone saw some new players in the Dnipro 1 squad. I am talking about Heiner and Peglow. It was felt that they are still fully integrated into the team's game. They lacked mutual understanding.

Of course, this was a very important match for Dnipro 1. Everyone perfectly understood the price of the match. But, probably, Dnipro-1 looked better in the fall. This is not a reproach, it's just the way the game in Cyprus turned out. The opponents were a huddled bunch, with few newcomers. The hosts played quite pragmatically. Plus, the Cypriots, as they say, are in full swing, the championship is in full swing.

But the coaching staff of Dnipro-1 will surely make the right conclusions from the defeat. To defeat AEK is quite realistic in a week in Kosice. We need to show more aggression, especially near another`s goal. Of course, our attacking play must be improved, which is the key to a good result in the future.

It is difficult to say for sure what was the reason for the defeat of Dnipro 1. Dnipro played pretty well at the training camp. Of course, you can`t compare sparring and the game in the Conference League, there is another level of responsibility. The pressure on the guys is completely different. Still, nothing is lost. All the fight is ahead in this pairing," SportArena quotes Kriventov as saying.