Vasyl Kardash, a former player of Dynamo Kyiv and the Ukrainian national team, shared his expectations with Komanda1 before today 'sinternationalmatches between Kyiv and Dnipro-1 .
Vasily Kardash- Let's start with the more prestigious tournament, the Europa League. Of course, all domestic football fans expected more from the Dnipro team in the Champions League qualifiers, but it didn't work out in the matches against Greek side Panathinaikos. Now, Oleksandr Kucher's men have the opportunity to rehabilitate themselves in the match against Czech Slavia.
- Before leaving for thematch in Prague, it became known that Dnipro-1 will not be helped by the leader of theattacks Artem Dovbyk, who will continue his careerin the Spanish Girona. In your opinion, who can replace him at the forefront of the attack?
- This is a difficult question. Of course, Dovbyk's departure is a serious loss, although in the matches against Panathinaikos Artem did not demonstrate his potential. "Hutsulyak, who has already played in this position at Karpaty, can play the number nine. Tretyakov may appear ahead of him. Another option is flank attacks, as Dnipro have a strong midfield and active full-backs. But it's the prerogative of the manager Oleksandr Kucher to decide which scheme Dnipro-1 will use.
- Slavia is one of those Czech teams that try to act aggressively, to impose apower struggle on the opponent. Will the Dnipro teamwithstand the onslaught of the hosts, who will be driven forward by noisy fans ?
- Dnipro-1 has a lot of experienced players who are no strangers to the intensity of international battles. I am convinced that the guys will withstand and respond with swift counterattacks. Although the Dnipro team has someone to control the ball and I really want ours to be the first to act. Moreover, we had the opportunity to make sure that the Prague defence is not impenetrable.
- Would you like to try yourself as an oracle?
- I think Dnipro-1 will at least not lose.
- Now let's talk about Dynamo, who will settle their relations with Aris in Greece in the Conference League qualifiers...
- I must say that the rivals are in equal condition. Kyiv have played two rounds in the UPL, and since the season has not yet started in Greece, Aris has limited itself to two matches in the preliminary stage of the Conference League with Armenian Ararat.
I would be cautious about Dynamo's leadership in the Premier League, as their rivals Minaj and Obolon are not household names. In both games, Mircea Lucescu's men won, but unexpectedly made mistakes in defence. This is an alarming signal. On the other hand, we were pleased with the results thanks to Shaparenko's creativity, Yarmolenko's activity and focus on Vanat's goal. So, today in Thessaloniki, a lot will depend on how Dynamo worked on their mistakes and whether their defence will not resemble a passing yard, as it was in the match against Obolon.
- Can Vanat become the scoring striker that Dynamo have been missing for a long time?
- I would like to believe that he will cope with the role of a striker. Although, of course, he will need the support of his teammates. In particular, I believe that Yarmolenko, who scored his 100th goal in the UPL in the match against Brewers, has not yet said his last word.
- What result do you expect today in Thessaloniki?
- Aris knows how to defend, but Dynamo need to make him panic with their persistence. I think that, like Dnipro-1, Kyiv will not lose. However, no matter how the matches in Prague and Thessaloniki end, the fate of the passes to the next round will still be decided in the second leg in Kosice and Bucharest.
Vasyl Mikhailov
