On Sunday, 30 July, in the match of the 1st round of the Ukrainian championship of the season-2023/24 Dynamo Kyiv defeated Minai with the score 4:1. The meeting took place in Kyiv at the Dynamo stadium named after Valeriy Lobanovskiy. Here is the post-match press conference of the teams' head coaches.
Mircea Lucescu. Photo - Y.YurievMircea LUCHEU, Dynamo head coach:
- The first match in the championship is usually not easy. Both teams prepared well for the season, but the difficulty was that they did not know each other's potential. We didn't start very well. We had to find a way out of a bad situation at the very beginning of the match. "Minaj is a very good team. In preparation for this match I told the guys: "Our opponent will play hard and very aggressive. We need to dominate, otherwise we will not win".
Today both teams played quite aggressively, so there were a lot of fouls. Nobody wanted to lose points. Overall, the game was entertaining, I think the fans enjoyed it.
Of course, I did not like that we conceded quickly. Buschan was not concentrated enough in that episode, the shot was unexpected for him - he just did not expect it. But this goal made us more angry, with each attack we played better and better. However, in any case, it is hard to start playing with the score 0:1.
I would like to note the form of Vanat. He has prepared very well at the training camp. Today Vanat made quick decisions, he could score more than two goals. However, the score could have been 2:2 - our opponents created danger at our goal and had chances to equalise.
- How would you assess the preparation of the team at the off-season training camp?
- We had a very good training camp. The team fulfilled all the tasks that I set for them at the beginning of the training camp. Our main task was to prepare well for the qualification of the Conference League, because there we could get good European teams as opponents. And so it happened.
But I am satisfied with the training camp. We played with the champion of Cyprus, defeated him big time (4:0), and now this team defeated BATE - a very good opponent in the European Cup with a score of 6:2. What to speak about our victory over Al-Hilal (1:0), who bought expensive players. The rest of the matches were experimental in nature, we played combinations and tried to understand who is ready. I am very satisfied with the training camp, we approached the season well.
- Are you planning to buy a striker, because now you have only Wanat from the nominal forwards at your disposal?
- No. Benito has prepared for the season very well at the striker position. So the attacking line is not the main problem for us now. Our main problem is the centre-back position. We have a lot of young players in this role, but for this position, first of all, you need experience. And our young players do not have it. Perhaps, we will solve this problem before the end of the transfer window.
I do not exclude the acquisition of a striker, but, I repeat, Benito had a good off-season training and showed himself well in the control matches. I am satisfied with him.
I would also like to thank the guys, that in a difficult period they came together and created a very favourable climate inside the team. I am very pleased with it.
- How do you like Yarmolenko's game?
- His experience was very necessary for our team. He has already made an important contribution to both the team and the collective. But he still needs to adapt to the Ukrainian championship: there is a very high level of competition in the tournament now and you need the appropriate physical preparation to play from the first to the last minutes of the match.
Today Yarmolenko made a lot of passes, worked in defence. I am satisfied with his game. We lacked such a player.
- Who would you like to face in the 3rd qualifying round of the Conference League - Aris or Ararat-Armenia?
- I think Aris will go further. This is a very good team, which always has a full stadium and a special atmosphere at home matches.
Vladimir SHARAN, head coach of "Minaya":
- First of all, I would like to congratulate Mircea Lucescu on his birthday. The Dynamo players congratulated him today as well.
I congratulate Dynamo on the victory. Of course, it is deserved. We started very well and showed the football I wanted to see. "In this part of the match Dynamo did not create any special chances to equalise the score and, moreover, to take the lead. But everything was decided by our own mistakes. And the skill of Dynamo players in these situations, which is much higher than the skill of our players. I would like to be more effective in attack. But we lack skill.
Владимир Шаран. Фото — Ю.ЮрьевAnd the end of the match, of course, we need to finish the game. Plus, Dynamo substitutions strengthened the game of this team, and we were already tired.
Nevertheless, I thanked the guys. It was only the first game, and it was good that we had Dynamo - one of the leaders, which, of course, will fight for the gold medals.
- Was the penalty kick awarded to Minaya fair?
- To be honest, I did not see this moment - it was very far away. When I watch the replay of this episode, I will be able to draw conclusions. In any case, there was a VAR system at the match, so the decision was correct. But, of course, we still need to watch this episode.
The mood after the game improved a bit when Mircea Lucescu came to me and said that we have a good team, which showed a good game and the final result is too big. I hope we will play better in the next matches.
- Does Minaj have specific objectives for this season?
- We should really look at the things that are happening in our club. The president of "Minaya" honestly says that he pays the team as much as he can. I understand it, the guys understand it. In such realities our task is to keep our place in the UPL. In the last championship we finished in 8th place, and it was a furore, because we planned to take maximum 12th place.
Oleksandr POPOV from the Dynamo stadium named after Valeriy Lobanovskiy
