Krasava striker Yevhen Budnyk, who has experience in Greece (for Platanias and Lamia), told what he expects from the first match of the 3rd qualifying round of the Conference League between Aris Thessaloniki and Dynamo Kyiv, which will take place today on the field of the Greek club
Eugene Budnik. Photo - footboom.com"I don't know where Dynamo is the favourite here, to be honest. If we compare the national championships, Greece is clearly stronger and more competitive, both in terms of the squad and the number of teams that can compete with the leader and so on. I would definitely not say that Dynamo is the favourite.
"Dynamo just have to play pragmatic football, for the result, purely for the result. Close down and run out on the counterattack. They will not beat Aris 100 per cent in football.
As for the form of the teams, of course Dynamo should have an advantage, at least in terms of game tone and physicality, because they have already played two official matches, but this does not mean anything. The level of Aris' players is very high, the squad is not young and the players already know what to do and how to deal with psychological issues, so it's 50/50. We have talented young people, and they seem to have an advantage in that they have played two games in the championship, but they are not young, but they are quite skilled players who have played at a very high level.
It will be difficult for Kyiv, the chances are 50/50. I really hope that they don't concede away and then yes, there is a high probability that Dynamo will pass.
We'll see, I really want Kyiv to make it through, I like how young players are growing up at Dynamo, it's really cool. Now, for sure, people are paying attention to this - not like in my time, when I was that age. So I wish Dynamo a lot of good luck, and I'll be watching.
As for the tactics, the coach knows best. Aris usually plays a 4-3-3 or 3-4-3 formation. We need to play on the counterattack, for sure. They will cover Yarmola, so we need to focus not on him, because they will really cover him. We need to focus on someone else, on Vanata, to prepare some kind of surprise. And the leaders, the ones we have now, must play very well, without losses: Sydorchuk, Buyalsky, Shaparenko, Yarmolenko, Zhora Bushchan, and lead everyone else, give them confidence, that's the most important thing.
What tactic should Dynamo choose? "Aris has always played with fast wingers, they themselves like to counterattack. We need to make them play first, give them the ball and wait, just be patient. There will be chances, because hot teams, all these hot countries, they love to flirt and miss some nuances. And you need to focus on standard positions, very strongly. In Greece, they play poorly in set pieces.
And in Greece, defenders often provoke very strongly, trying to knock the ground out from under their feet, as they say, and provoke some unnecessary nerves. That's how he had his moment with the sending-off at the World Cup. I hope that such moments will not happen again.
I think Vanat is just a handsome man, well done, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for him. He's doing a great job as a centre forward, a really good back nine who creates chances, what can I say, I wish him only good luck.
Will he cope with the pressure? Of course he will. He already has experience, I hope he will cope. He needs everyone to support him and put pressure on him. He needs to create chances, and he will make them happen. He has good, great dynamics, statistics, great implementation, what else do you need for a striker?
What is your forecast? I will say this: in Greece I hope for 1-2, and at home for 1-0 and a penalty shootout, so be it. In general, I wish Dynamo to fuck them up and glorify our football. Glory to Ukraine!" Budnik said.
