Dila's Ukrainian goalkeeper Yevhen Kucherenko has told us what he thinks about his team's two-match clash with Vorskla Poltava in the 2nd qualifying round of the Champions League.
Yevhen Kucherenko- Yevhen, will you be interested in meeting the Ukrainian team?
- We knew that we could play Vorskla even before we beat Slovakian DAK 1904 (1:2, 2:0). Now we are preparing for Poltava.
- Is it important for you to beat Vorskla? Or are the main tasks not for the European Cups?
- This is sport, you want to beat any opponent.
- What do you think of Vorskla?
- I've known them since my time at Kolos. They have a very good, intelligent coach (Viktor Skrypnyk). They don't play hit-and-run. The game is very well organised. They are good at both attacking and passing. We see everything, study, prepare. It will be interesting.
- Who will be the most dangerous for Dila's goal?
- Ruslan Stepaniuk, of course (forward, 5 goals + 5 assists in the UPL 2022/2023 - ed.) We are preparing, conducting theory and analysis of the opponent.
"Vorskla is dangerous on the counterattack, they have fast wingers and strikers. They play more power football. Strong attacking line.
Ibrahim Kane and Najib Yakubu are strong wingers, I played against them back in Shakhtar U-21, they were in Vorskla's double. And Artem Chelyadin (central midfielder) was memorable.
- What else will be difficult for the goalkeeper?
- "Vorskla presses a lot. We are preparing for this. The field will show.
- Will it be difficult on set pieces?
- Vorskla has experienced tall defenders who come to set pieces. Ukraine is generally famous for playing on set pieces and power football. Let's not take Shakhtar, but Vorskla, Oleksandriya, Kolos - they play power football. That is, they fight, win, pick it up, run out, and then win, pick it up, run out again.
- And do they press the goalkeeper?
- Of course they do.
- How does Dila play under pressure? Through the pass, or do you take it to the other half?
- We leave the defence through a low pass, a low pass. But it happens that we also have to knock it out.
- Is it convenient that you are playing the second game at home?
- Yes, it's better. We will have our own fans, our own stadium, our own atmosphere.
- Is it a big stadium?
- Four or five thousand. Vorskla will be full, as it was with the Slovaks.
- What if there is a draw or a minimal defeat in the first match?
- We are only aiming to win. We had this chance, we beat the Slovaks, and now we have a good chance.
- Have Ukrainians come to watch football in Hora?
- A couple of times, but not many. Maybe four people. Ukrainians in Georgia mostly come from Tbilisi and Batumi.
Anton Terekhov
