"We didn't deserve this result" - Kucher about Dnipro-1's 1-3 defeat to Panathinaikos

Head coach of Dnipro-1 Oleksandr Kucher commented on his team's 1-3 defeat to Greek side Panathinaikos in the first match of the second qualifying round of the Champions League.

"It's hard to comment on today's match. In the first half, we were somewhat afraid of the opponent, although there was nothing wrong, the same people against whom we should and can play. We conceded a goal, after which the game started, a pattern emerged, and we had chances.

In the second half, we played well, but these half-chances at our goal... half a chance - we get a goal, half a chance - we get a goal. There is no responsibility, no concentration. You can't let such teams score so easily. That season, in the European Cups, we had three shots and three goals against us. Now it's the same - three shots and three goals. I don't understand why this is. Apparently, somewhere we didn't communicate and didn't get through to the guys.

But I can't say that all is lost. We played well in the second half: we ran, covered, had chances and could have scored more, but we lost concentration and vigilance, which resulted in incomprehensible goals. As for the 11-metre shot, it's hard to comment on whether it was a free kick or not. We need to watch it again, because I didn't see any violation of the rules there.

I think we did not deserve such a result and such a defeat. We could have scored more, and of course we will analyse the episodes near our goal and remove them, because we allowed those goals to be scored very easily," Kucher said at the post-match press conference.