Former Dynamo Kyiv striker Oleh Salenko has shared his prediction for his former team's match against Shakhtar Donetsk in the 22nd round of the Ukrainian championship, which will take place tomorrow in the capital.
- Oleh, does the upcoming match between Dynamo and Shakhtar not generate as much excitement as it used to?
- Yes, but there are several reasons for that. First, there is a war in our country. Secondly, the rivals are solving different tournament tasks.
While Shakhtar is fighting for the championship, Dynamo would be lucky to take third place. Finally, the matches are held without spectators, which does not create such a stir around this meeting.
- Is it safe to say that a victory will still leave a small chance "бilo-sonthem" in the fight for gold medals?
- I think it's out of the question. "Shakhtar are in good form now, so it will be unrealistic for them to lose nine points in eight rounds.
Second place and getting into the Champions League? It is possible. But Dynamo would be better off focusing on the competition for third place in order to qualify for the Europa League and prepare for this tournament.
- Why has Dynamo mostly disappointed its fans this season?
- Bushchan and Shaparenko have been injured for a long time, Zabarnyi and Tsygankov have gone abroad, and these are all key Dynamo players. There are no equivalent replacements for these players yet, and that's where it all comes down to.
- What is needed for progress is to change players, the head coach or є other ways to bring the team to a higher level?
- Mircea Lucescu said himself that he wants to leave. Perhaps it will happen at the end of this season. I believe that the team needs a talented Ukrainian specialist to start working with the start of preparations for the new season and be responsible for the game and the result. Changes are needed, that's for sure.
- What is the key to the success of the current Shakhtar?
- The players who became the main players at Shakhtar after the legionnaires left understood the philosophy of the new head coach Igor Jovicevic. The team is doing well: "The Shakhtar have played well in Europe and earned a lot of points for the country. And by the standards of the UPL, Shakhtar generally demonstrates an excellent level of football.
- Dnipro-1 will be able to compete "Shakhtar" in the race for gold medals?
- If we talk about the first part of the championship, it was quite realistic. But after the winter break, the Dnipro team lost a lot of ground, especially in terms of results.
Shakhtar is currently the closest to the championship, and it will be difficult for Dnipro-1 to catch up. The last round match against Zorya was very important, in which Oleksandr Kucher's men unfortunately lost.
- У the match "Dynamo vs." - "Шakhtar" Do you have a favorite?
- No, this is a Ukrainian classic. No matter where the teams are in the standings, it's still not easy to predict the outcome.
If Igor Jovicevic's men win, they will gain additional psychological confidence in the fight for first place.
As for Dynamo, as I said, they need to win at least in order not to let Zorya go, because the gap after this round may already be six points...
- Then what will be your forecast for this match?
- For some reason, it seems to me that the fans will have an exciting match. I think the teams will do their best to demonstrate all their skills and please with quality football.
Of course, for some intrigue, I would like Dynamo to win. But I think the game will end in a 1-1 draw.
Yaroslav Pyatnitsky
Важка буде гра для Динамо, але віримо у перемогу.