Former Ukrainian national team midfielder Oleh Shelayev shared his expectations for the central match of the 22nd round of the Ukrainian championship between Dynamo Kyiv and Shakhtar Donetsk, which will take place tomorrow in the capital.
- Ukrainian classical music may have lost its luster and the expectations from it are not the same, - Shelayev noted. "Without most of the legionnaires who played for Shakhtar and Dynamo, the face-to-face meeting between our leaders has unfortunately lost its usual charm. But the names of the clubs themselves still sound the same. Both teams have many of their own players who have absorbed the spirit and philosophy of their clubs.
- What is the biggest drawback and the most significant advantage of the current Shakhtar and Dynamo?
- The Pitmen's main advantage is their chemistry. "Shakhtar are now united as a team. The players complement each other. But there is also a significant drawback - the instability of young performers who can have a good game and then a mediocre one. This mediocrity in a match with Dynamo is unacceptable.
As for Dynamo, its results are affected by the excessive excitement of young people, who are actively put into the "base" by Mircea Lucescu. It is noticeable how Dyachuk, Vanat and Tsarenko are worried and make mistakes. They need time to get rid of this. In addition, it is difficult to understand the potential of the White and Blues' legionnaire Lonwijk, who occasionally plays very well, but it is still unclear in which component of football he is most useful - as a manager or as a defender. Dynamo's trump card is motivation, as Shakhtar remains a significant irritant.
- What role can the coaching factor play in the confrontation between Dynamo and Shakhtar?
- This is another disadvantage for Dynamo. The future of Mircea Lucescu and the entire coaching staff of the White and Blues is now in complete fog. Dynamo's cooperation with Lucescu may be terminated due to certain weighty circumstances: the Romanian specialist's poor health, the expiration of his contract... "Dynamo, like every team, needs certainty - either the head coach extends the contract or leaves.
- What is the tournament significance of the classic today and how critical will a defeat be for Shakhtar or Dynamo?
- For the White and Blues, a draw in this match against the Miners is a defeat. Shakhtar, of course, will be quite satisfied with not only a victory but also a draw. Jovicevic's team will have eight more matches ahead, including a face-to-face meeting with Dnipro-1 in the 29th round. Therefore, it is important for Shakhtar to maintain a four-point handicap.
Oleg Semenchenko