Former Dynamo Kyiv and Ukraine national team midfielder Aleksandr Aliyev, who has been in the ranks of the Armed Forces since the early days of the war, does not enjoy the game shown by the current generation of Dynamo players. He is sure that many young players simply do not understand what club they play for.
Alexander Aliyev"I don't think Dnipro 1 are deliberately losing to Kryvbas. I'm sure they want to test their mettle in the Champions League".
- Let's start with the fact that I am very happy that the season 2022/2023 took place, despite the full-scale war, despite all the difficulties - Aliyev began the conversation. - The matches this season were mostly played in cities where there was no fighting. Yes, the championship was not very spectacular, but, thank God, it was held and is about to end.
- Should we finally open up the stands to fans in the new season? After all, concerts are held in Ukrainian cities, but fans are banned from entering the stands.
- As long as there`s a war in the country, I do not think it`s worth it. You, like me, see for yourselves that every day rockets are flying at us. And what about concerts and people singing and dancing... I watch and read news a lot on social networks, monitor the posts of military guys sitting in the trenches. They are fighting, while at the same time other guys are having fun in the trenches. What is it like? Dancing on the bones. Some fight, others dance.
- In the last round, we are waiting for more than one interesting match. For example, Dnipro 1 vs Kryvbas. There are rumours, at the level of rumours, that Oleksandr Kucher's team may give this match to Iurii Vernidub's team. They say it would be much more profitable for Dnipro players to play directly in the Europa League group, rather than try to advance through three Champions League qualifiers.
- This is the first time I hear that. I do not think that Dnipro-1 will intentionally lose to Kryvbas. I am sure they want to test their mettle in the Champions League. It's the strongest, most prestigious tournament. It is nonsense that Dnipro 1 can just give points to Kryvbas. I do not know who makes such rumours and why.
- Another fixture with a claim to be the pivotal one will be held in Poltava, where Vorskla will take on an unmotivated Shakhtar.
- I think that Igor Iovichevich will field a second squad for this game, so to speak, to give the lads who have had little match practice during the season a chance to play. However, I am sure that it will not make it easier for Vorskla to pick up points in the match against Shakhtar.
Vorskla still have a chance to snag fifth place, which entitles them to play in the Conference League qualifiers, so they will definitely give battle to the Pitmen. Viktor Skrypnycka has a pretty good team. I have watched a few of their games, and the only impression is that the Poltavians simply have some bad luck.
- Many experts call the Luhansk Zorya their main discovery, saying they didn`t expect such results from Patrick van Leeuwen`s team and, above all, such a quality game.
- I personally attended a game between Zoria and Dynamo, and I liked the Luhansk game a lot. They control the ball brilliantly, they move. I could not see a lot of Zoria games, but in those games which I saw with my own eyes I liked Luhansk team a lot. Is Zorya the opening or not of the championship? I do not know. I can not give a definite answer to this question.
I will also say that I liked Roman Grigorchuk's Chornomorets, especially in the game against Dynamo. However, after the game with Kyiv, something went wrong in their game. They started losing points on a straightaway. I do not know, maybe their main task for the season was to beat Dynamo (laughs).
"Young Dynamo players finally need to understand that children's football is over".
- In the 30th round of the UPL, it will also be interesting to watch the matches of the teams who will fight for the places 11-12, the places which will let them stay in the elite for sure, instead of flirting with destiny in the transition matches.
- You know, as for me, all four teams - Veres, Ingulets, Rukh, Metalist 1925- have about the same chance of success. So I wouldn`t mark anyone out.
Except that it is clear that in the case of victory over "Ingults", "Veres" guarantees a place in the UPL next season, it is obvious. Will it be harder for Metalist 1925, because they`ll play with Dynamo? I don`t think so.
Both "Zoria" and "Chernomorets", and "Ingulets", and many teams have already shown that it is possible to play with the current "Dynamo". What is more, they can score points. If Edmar and Holodyuk choose the right tactics for the game, motivate the guys to win, everything can be possible.
I don`t want to lose Dynamo in any case, it`s my favorite club, but Metalist 1925 can get their nerve.
- Why "Dynamo" is so spoiled in this championship? It is the first time since 2014 that Kyivians were left without any awards at all.
- It is not a question for me. Such a question should be addressed to Mircea Lucescu. Or to Sascha Shovkovskiy, who is currently in charge of the team. I don't know what's going on inside the team.
As a fan, I will say that I did not enjoy the games I saw in those games. Realistically. I am talking primarily about the games I saw with my own eyes, when I could be at the stadium. I watched and did not recognize this team, I could not believe that this was Dynamo.
I understand that there are many factors: there is a war going on, there are no fans, many foreign players have left the team, but... I share and understand Mykhailivych (Ihor Surkis - FanDay commentary) when after the game with Inhults he said that one must not play like that! He, as the president, is doing his best, and they...
Those players, who now play for Dynamo, must understand what kind of club it is. What players played for it, what achievements Dynamo has. Many young boys who play for Dynamo now must understand where they got, what club's honor they defend. The young Dynamo players must finally realize that youth football is over! It is time for adult football. They have looked weak in this championship and there is nothing for them to do in Europe at all.
"Yarmolenko's return to Dynamo will help the team. His presence will be a big motivation for the young ones".
- Shouldn't Igor Surkis splurge on a pay-off and retire Mircea Lucescu? The Romanian seems to have lost his leverage on the team.
- It is not my competence to advise Igor Surkis. He, not me, is the president. He spends money on the club. It is up to him whether to leave Lucescu at the helm of Dynamo or not.
As for Shovkovs'kyi, he has real potential. He went to the courses and got a coaching license for a reason. Sasha definitely wants to be a coach. At the moment, as you can see, luck is smiling upon him, and then... Personally, I would be very happy if Shovkovs'kyi was appointed as the head coach of Dynamo.
- The main news of the week is Andrii Yarmolenko's possible return to Dynamo. Will the player, who has spent the last few years without proper playing practice, be able to make a real contribution to the Kyiv club?
- That's why you put Yarmolenko down as a grandfather? He is only 33 years old. He is still young, he can still play. There are examples - Messi and Ronaldo. They are, as they say, prodigies. But Andriukha is also physically well prepared. I think if he returns to Dynamo, he will help the team.
His presence will be a great motivation for the young ones. He has always been humble. He is sociable, he can laugh. I always welcome the respect young people have for their elders.
- Shakhtar's regular championship is the result of their good game or is it worth saying that the main rival, namely Dynamo, has significantly lost ground?
- Shakhtar had a very smooth season. Although I thought that Dnipro 1 will fight with them for the gold till the end, will play and consistently get victories, but Oleksandr Kucher's guys have failed. Perhaps Dnipro's side have not had enough experience. Although Shakhtar have a lot of young players, but at this point they were stronger.
"After the victory you want to get really drunk, and then go away and rest on the sea".
- Should the UPL be expanded to 18 or even 20 clubs?
- I would not mind if the Premier League had not even 20, but 22 teams, but the most important thing for our country now is not football, the main thing is that the war has ended as soon as possible. Even before the war the level of football in our country was lame, let alone now.
Let me repeat, I am only for increasing the number of teams in the UPL, I am only for increasing the number of people who invest in Ukrainian football, developing it, I am only for the number of young and high-quality players, but again, we need to end the war. Win and live in a free state.
- You serve in the Armed Forces. Aren`t you tired of military uniform, not sports uniform?
- After a year and a half in the army during the war, I'm a little tired, it all weighs on you. Psychologically it is very hard. But there's nothing to do but endure it. What annoys me the most is that children are dying. Even the day before, on Children's Day, children died in Kyiv.
When I am on leave, I put on sports clothes and it is a relief for me. I forget for a while.
I really want to wait for the day when we win. I want to get really drunk after that, and then go and rest on the sea, at least for ten days. And afterwards, just live and mind your own business.
Victor GLUKHENKY
