Oleksandr Kosyrin, the former Dynamo Kyiv forward, told what he thinks about the failure of Dnipro-1 in the confrontation with Cyprus AEK in the 1/16 finals of the Conference League. It must be recalled Dnipro lost the first game with Cypriots 0:1, and in the return game ended with only a draw (0:0) and, accordingly, the team dropped out of the tournament.
Alexander Kosyrin- Oleksandr, the day before the return match, we saw the information that the leader of Dnipro-1 Artem Dovbik would miss the crucial match with AEK. This information worried you?
- Of course, Dovbik is the strongest player in the "Dnipro-1" team. He is in his prime prime and scoring a lot. And in general the game of the team, the attack is designed for him. It is clear that the coaching staff led by Aleksander Kucher tried to work something out, but how to do it in one day? Probably, if Dovbik was on the pitch, he would have scored a goal or maybe two.
- Only Artem Dovbik`s absence prevented Dnipro-1 from scoring in the match against AEK?
- I think that the long winter break does not play into the hands of our teams. In late November, Ukrainian soccer clubs finish the first part of the season. Then there is a vacation and a long training camp. I think that in recent years only Shakhtar and Dynamo Kyiv have got used to official matches in February. For Dnipro 1 it is all a new experience.
And so, the players of Dnipro-1 got together for Christmas and all the places they go, a lot of flights. Look, they were preparing in Turkey, then a week in Cyprus and a week in Slovakia. I don't know if they saw their families during that time. It is hard enough.
- As for the game in the second match, who had the advantage?
- In general, they were about equal teams. The only thing is that the Ukrainian team has never managed to score a goal. Although, remember, in the first half, Pihalyonok had a good moment, and in the second half Peglou shot powerfully from afar - the goal post saved the guests. And I think Gutsulyak had the most real chance to score, but after his header, the ball flew over the bar.
- What do you think about the newcomers to Dnipro-1? Have you managed to see the qualities of Heiner, Peglow and Mingo?
- It is too early to make any conclusions. They are just getting used to the new team, the style of Dnipro-1`s game. I would like them to help their new team, because Dnipro-1 have a very small squad.
- Now teams from Cyprus are becoming a stumbling block for domestic clubs. At your time there was no such thing...
- Indeed, 20 years ago, we did not know the names of clubs from Malta, Luxembourg and Cyprus. We understood that when we took the field against teams from those countries, we would beat them. But soccer is levelling up. You just can`t beat anyone. Plus, the situation in our country with the war is not conducive to soccer.
- In early March, the second part of the Ukrainian Premier League starts. In the first matches "Dnipro-1" will play with "Alexandria" and "Dynamo". If Dovbik is absent, will it greatly affect the results of the team, which is fighting for the championship?
- Of course, it is a problem for the team and it is a very serious problem. Plus, we don't know what quality the soccer fields will be. The weather spring won't start yet. I suppose that there will be a lot of physical soccer, a lot of fighting and one-on-one battles. Dovbik is needed by Dnipro 1.
