On Monday, May 8, in the away match of the 25th round of the Ukrainian championship Dynamo Kyiv defeated Kryvbas. The post-match press conference of the teams' head coaches is to your attention.
Oleksandr Shovkovskiy Oleksandr SHOVKOVSKY, acting head coach of Dynamo:
- I wish everyone a good, quiet day and continue the evening. We know the situation in which our whole country is in and we thank our soldiers who defend the borders of Ukraine and give us the opportunity to hold matches. We understand what we can expect in the coming days, because the aggression of our neighbours is usually greater than usual on such dates.
Regarding today's match, we played our third away game in a row. It was not easy: the road, the recovery. I want to thank my players for their desire. We understood that all teams led by Yuriy Vernidub play openly, aggressively, with a lot of fight. We tuned our players that we have no right to lose in motivation, desire, fight and mood. I think we managed to do that.
- How lucky was Dynamo, in the episodes when Kryvbas played very well?
- In football, the concept of being lucky or unlucky is relative. Of course, after the game, we will conduct the analysis, see the number of possession, chances, as well as XG. But I can already say that at the end of the match we could have won with a bigger score. Therefore, we will say whether we were lucky or not after analyzing the entire game and the actions of each player in the chain, etc. And we should not draw any conclusions immediately after the match. In general, luck must be earned at least by desire and work, even when the game does not go well.
- There are different rumours floating around Dynamo coaching staff. How do you feel about the fact that you are called Lucescu's successor?
- I understand that you are interested in the insider information, but I am interested in football, the game and preparation of my team. I say "my team" because there are two teams in my life - Dynamo and the Ukraine national football team. Now I'm in the Dynamo team, on its coaching staff, and I am interested in how my team will play. We are getting ready and are in constant contact with the head coach. But you will never hear about such things, about which you are asking a question, no matter how much you try to "get it out" from within the team. There is a management that will handle all the issues, there are contractual obligations to the players, the coaching staff and every person working in the team. So that's not a question for me.
The question for me is how we prepared for this practice game. By the way, the goal we scored was one of the practices we engaged in in the training process. So I suggest we ask questions about the game, and leave everything else aside at least until the end of the head coach's contract. What will happen then - no one knows. There is a proverb: "If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.
- As for the Ukraine national team, can you see yourself on the next coaching staff? Maybe there are already some agreements?
- I assumed this question, so I have already answered it. I am currently working at Dynamo and all my thoughts are linked with it. I am fully immersed in the work with this team. What will happen tomorrow, no one knows. Let's first win this war, and then we will think about everything else.
Yuriy Vernidub, Kryvbashead coach:
- What was lacking for the positive result? A goal. In general, the game against Dynamo was not bad. In the first half there were moments that were not realized. In the second half we got a bit confused, conceded a quick goal from a standard. The second tempo featured a cross from the flank and a shot. After that the boys got back into the game, but failed to score. But this is football, you have to accept it.
It is very offensive for me and for the team, which conceded the game. Well, that`s nothing bad. For us it is an experience that we can also play on equal terms against the teams competing for the top places.
- How serious is Mikitishin's injury and assess Sosa's debut.
- Artur pulled his back muscle. It is hard to say just how serious it is. As for Sosa, he just arrived. We look forward to him, should strengthen us. We signed him back in March, but he have only just arrived. But now this is the reality of our lives. We believe that he will adapt very quickly to Kryvbas. He is a good winger with good technique.
- Who did Kryvbas lack on the pitch today? Maybe Vitaliy Vernidub?
- We lacked a bit of luck. Any game needs a bit of luck. We went into the break with the score 0-0, though we should have won 1-0. We came out in the second half and immediately conceded - 0-1. Everyone who was on the field today, everyone is in place. There are guys, who are injured, and they are really missing. But the players, who are playing now, really show good interesting football.
- Were you surprised by tactical moves made by Shovkovskiy as a coach?
- We trained for them, they trained for us. "Dynamo played the way we expected. I think they were not surprised by our game, just as we were surprised by theirs. They have their style, their drawing, their style of play. I congratulate Shovkovs'kyi on the win, this is his third win while Lucescu is recovering from surgery.
