Former Dynamo forward and now a well-known football expert, Viktor Leonenko ,has spoken out about the main developments in Ukrainian football.
Victor Leonenko- Dynamo lost for the first time under Shovkovskiy, losing to Chornomorets 2-3. What do you think of the Kyiv team's performance in this match?
- The sad thing is that Dynamo started losing from the start. It was clear at once that there would be little pleasant. It was obvious that Chornomorets were in a good mood for the game. My friend Grigorchuk has a very good team, he can create it even from nothing.
From the first minutes of the match Dynamo showed the fans that they would not congratulate them. It was only pleasant that at the beginning of the second half Dinamo switched on for 20 minutes, but then switched off again. I have the feeling that Dynamo play as if they were doing us a favour. The fans do not even demand the result from the present Dynamo, the main thing is that they try.
- What do you think is going on with Dynamo?
- Everyone has already forgotten that the same players looked weak before Lucescu. Lucescu just came as a saviour, won the championship, whether it was by chance or not - who cares. And then everything fell into place. Now they made up the excuse that the team is young. But then why did you bring it to the point that there was a young team? Who cares that the team is young? Why have you sold the old ones somewhere? Why did not you prepare a replacement?
All normal clubs have the conveyor belt and continuity. When I left Dynamo, I left Shevchenko and Rebrov. And Shevchenko and Rebrov left no one behind. And even more so now!
- Is fourth place the ceiling for Dynamo this season?
- It is! They will not catch up with anyone. There is another question: who will come second? Earlier, I said that Shakhtar would be first. Although now the Donetsk team are playing more and more boring after Jovicevic's arrival. But Shakhtar are gaining points, even though they play poorly - they are walking.
I dread to think how our clubs will play in European competitions next season. I am not even talking about the Champions League! You have to pray that they will be challenged by someone weaker.
- Who, then, according to you, is a favourite for the second place in the UPL?
- As far as the game is concerned, Zorya look the best of them. And if there are no scandals with the officiating of Dnipro 1, Kucher's team will still lose points. I would like to take this opportunity to ask Dovbik: apart from penalties, will you score any other goals? As for the game now, I would not put Dnipro 1 on the first place, and second too. It seems to me, they will be outplayed by Zorya.
- What do you think about the outsiders? Who will be knocked out of the UPL?
- Any team worthy of relegation. With us, as a rule, the team that has the infrastructure, will fly out. And those teams, where there is nothing - stay. I have a simple principle - let the strongest team stay and the weakest one - fly out. Tolya Bessmertny - a friend of mine, but he signed for FC Lviv when there was no chance there.
- Let's be frank: Bessmertny has lost all nine games at the helm of FC Lviv.
- And how can you win there, if Shakhtar, Dnipro-1, Dynamo are on the calendar? And then it got down to business as usual. Besides, there are no players there.
- Polesye and Obolon advanced to the UPL. What can you say about the newcomers?
- I can only advise the newcomers: run around, look for players. The question is whether they will find them. If they don`t find them, it will be hard for them in UPL.
- Polesie is not a poor club. Butkevych sets ambitious goals for the team.
- I'm not talking about the money. The question is where to find players, given the fact that there are no good players even in our top clubs. The task for all teams in the UPL at the beginning of the season is the same - to get into the top six. The newcomers, I think, will have the goal of solidifying themselves in the top division, and see how things go.
- Yarmolenko's contract with Al Ain expires in the summer and according to the UAE media, he will not be extended. Do you think his triumphant return to Dynamo will take place?
- What triumphal return?! He cannot have anything triumphant, because, unfortunately, he did not prove himself abroad. But, hopefully, he will be welcomed at Dynamo. Once he returns, then we will discuss his prospects. I am not a translator of foreign articles as Tsyganik and Vatsko to talk about something that does not exist.
- Do you think Yarmolenko is able to strengthen Dynamo or he is not the same player after the UAE Championship?
- Dynamo is now at such a low level that he can make the team stronger. We should look whether he has enough health or not. Ageing players suffer more injuries.
- Do you think Lucescu will leave Dinamo in the summer?
- I think he will stay and finish his contract till the end. Why should Dynamo throw away money on the termination of his contract, if they are fourth anyway? It could be even worse after all.
- On the contrary, should we replace Lucescu in order to improve results?
- It is impossible to improve results with those players. It's not even the fact that Tsygankov and Zabarniy left. The current level in the UPL is so weak, that even Tsarenko can take a shot. But so far no one has shot. Besides, Tsarenko does not always play in the first team, even though he seems to be a promising guy.
- Do you like some Dynamo players?
- No! There should not be any of those players there at all. I can note only Buschan's positive side.
- Dynamo loanee Brazhko is looking good at the moment at Zorya. Do you think he can make Kyiv stronger in the new season?
- When players leave Dynamo, they all start playing. Because at another club they feel like one of the best. That's why Brazhko started to play. And, as far as I understand, van Leeuwen knows how to talk to the guys and open them up. But Dynamo have very different requirements.
- Let's talk about our foreign players. How do you like Tsygankov at Girona?
- I am most surprised that the redhead does not miss matches due to injuries, as it was in Dynamo. Either he knows that later he will not be able to appear in the lineup, or he likes the championship and the team. In Spain they give a good assessment to Tsygankov, and it is great. The main thing is not to let him go down after a month and a half.
The fact that in Girona there is someone to solve issues, he is not dragging the team there on his own, like in Dinamo, also plays a positive role for him. Therefore, it is easier for Tsygankov to be there.
- Should Tsygankov look for a stronger team in the new season?
- Those are not my questions. It remains to be seen whether there will be any offers. The press is good about him, but it might be the local or club media, not the national one. For example, now everyone is criticizing Malinovskiy, saying that Marseille don`t need him, and the club signed a contract with him for three years.
- What do you think about Mudryk, who is still unable to score for Chelsea? It's true that the rest of the players in the London team are not impressive either...
- I wish they would forget about him a bit. They write so much about him, I have never seen anything like that! Stop harassing him, he is a substitute. Mudrik is not ready now, because he did not go through the training camp with Chelsea, and he could not play from scratch. I am sure Mudryk will be talked about until December, even if he does not play.
Yes, he gets a lot of money, but it's Chelsea 'tractor drivers', not us, that pay that much to a substitute. These points can be discussed, but what can we say about Mudrik now, if he's a FOR-PASTER!
- Mudric will have a training camp with Chelsea in the summer. What are his prospects for the new season?
- He will need to be competitive and get into the squad. Chelsea still want to strengthen. I understand their owner just like to buy players. Besides, a new coach will come in and Mudrick will have to prove himself to him.
- I will ask a question that interests the fans. Why does Leonenko not like Zinchenko so much?
- Again, they make conclusions for me. What does it have to do with whether he likes it or not? I just sort out the games, I do not care who Zinchenko is or not.
- But you criticize him most of all.
- I just want to show people that he is not what everyone thinks he is. Zinchenko has already confused everyone, even himself. Is he a left-back or a defender? Probably, he does not know himself. There is a feeling that he plays where it suits him, but as a result he does not manage anywhere.
And when they start writing that he is the best left-back in the world, it makes me uncomfortable. It feels like everyone is blind! Therefore, I specifically watch Arsenal matches and analyse Zinchenko's game.
Everyone says that Arsenal are no good without Zinchenko. You look at his stats, and there are two assists and a goal. What do you think? Edegor and Martinelli have already scored 15 goals, and here everyone is praising Zinchenko! I think he himself should be sick of being so much in the press.
- Let's sum it up. Do you think Zinchenko is a great player or not?
- If we take him as an attacking midfielder, he is definitely not a top-level player, judging by his statistics. He is not top-notch in tackling and headplay! He cannot make a tackle either, he constantly stumbles. Zinchenko has been involved in almost all of Arsenal's conceded goals - he constantly fails to finish.
I do not even talk about the famous moment when Alexander-Arnold dribbled between his legs in the "house" and gave him the goal. When Zinchenko starts to play great, I will be the first to say he did great.
- Name the top 3 best Ukrainian footballers right now.
- We do not have the top ones, but I will try to name the best players. I`d put Tsygankov on the first place, Buschan is second and Sudakov third, he`s quite active and creative player.
- The Ukraine national team is still without a coach, although Fabrizio Romano assures us that the problem with Rebrov is solved. What do you think about it?
- It is very simple. The same mess, as with the coach, will be with the national team game. As it will be, so we will play. We already have an excuse for a friendly - this is the national team of Germany. If they play in a draw, they will return as heroes, as we used to do.
But seriously, there is no professionalism in this situation. Our amateurism has gone nowhere - it is in full view. So I do not expect anything good from the national team. How can it be - the start of qualifying, to play with England, and we have no coach? Maybe Rotan should also prepare for Germany?
Lobanovskiy, God rest his soul, is probably asking in Heaven: "Was that allowed?". Laughing, but it is a shame for such a big football country - that they cannot find a coach.
Rotan, who has not achieved anything yet, coaches three teams. I even coined him a nickname - 'Ruslan the draw' for his series of draws at Oleksandriya.
- Who, according to you, is the best option for the job of the head coach of Ukraine, if suddenly even Romano makes a mistake and the expected contract with Rebrov is not signed?
- Apart from Rebrov, I suggest Skrypnyk, Hryhorchuk and Vernidub. The Ukraine national team could also have Zavarov as head coach, the only question is whether he will be hired. Demyanenko may also be. I would not be surprised if Protasov sees himself as the national team manager.
By the way, I recently talked to Blokhin and he told me: "I am ready for the third time to lead the Ukraine national team. I want to help my country. I said: "Wait, your back hurts. And he said: "No, I'm ready! So there is someone to choose from.
Andriy PISKUN
