Dynamo Kyiv defender Kostyantyn Vivcharenko told us how his recovery from injury is going, what he thinks about his team's start in the league, how to play without their long-time captain Sydorchuk, what trophies Dynamo will be fighting for this season, whether he sees himself at the heart of the team, and whether it is true that Porto and Burnley were interested in him.
Kostiantyn Vivcharenko. Photo by O. Popov"All teams come out against us as if it were their last match"
- Kostiantyn, how is your health?
- The injury has been bothering me since April. And now I have aggravated it even more. It hurts in the groin area. This is a common syndrome that many footballers have. So I hope that it will go away soon and I will return to the game.
- Soon - how soon? What is your return date?
- I don't want to guess. I think it will be about two weeks.
- Get well soon! But now I can ask you what Dynamo's game looks like from the outside?
- It's hard to say anything now, because we've only played four games. As you can see, we had very difficult matches against both Obolon and Chornomorets. All teams come out against us as if it were their last match and fight. Take Obolon, for example - this team hasn't scored a goal in a game for a while. And in the game against us, they scored twice. That's why we need to tune in very well to each opponent in order not to lose points.
- Obolon scored two goals against you, perhaps because Dynamo has problems in defence?
- I think everyone makes mistakes, there's no getting away from them, but we pay a lot of attention to defensive play in training, and there are already improvements(in the match against Vorskla, the team played zero defence for the first time in the league - ed.) We will strive to have fewer problems in the future.
- However, Dynamo concedes in almost every game. What is the reason for this?
- I think it's not for me to name these reasons. There is a coaching staff for this, they will tell us what is wrong. And we will listen to their comments and work to concede less. It is better not to concede at all, like in the match against Vorskla.
"I need to play more attacking"
- Does your defence line change in each round?
- It's hard to say anything about that. But there is nothing to be done - injuries and suspensions. The coaches know better who should play at the moment. It's their choice.
- Do you have any complaints about the game?
- Of course - not without it. I need to play more offensively, create chances for my teammates. I will work on it more.
- Does Lucescu directly set you any tasks or maybe give you some advice?
- Personally, Lucescu did not set me any tasks. Yes, there were some tactical remarks at times.
"Chornomorets played their best game against us"
- In Odesa, you started for the first time this season. What is the main reason for the defeat against Chornomorets, in your opinion?
- It was a rather long journey to Odesa. Of course, some might argue that these are all excuses. However, believe me, it is very difficult when you sit on a bus for eight or nine hours on the road and then go out and play. Although we should also pay tribute to Chornomorets. I think the Odesa team played their best game against us. Although we created a lot of chances, we just failed to convert them - we were a little unlucky somewhere. But in the second half, Odesa had only two chances, from which they scored goals.
- Now, when you look at the standings, what do you see?
- I see that we have played few games and are not in first place.
- You are eight points behind Shakhtar, but you have three games in hand. Is it difficult to catch up in such a situation?
- I don't remember that we have played so few games compared to all the other teams. But it doesn't put any pressure on us psychologically. This is just the beginning of the championship - we will win the postponed games and catch up with our rivals.
- In the fight for gold, is Shakhtar the main rival for Dynamo?
- Let's just say that they are the most fundamental rival for us. But I believe that we will have matches in the league in which we will have a harder time than in games against Shakhtar.
"Shakhtar is Shakhtar, they are always dangerous for us."
- When you play against Shakhtar, who is the most dangerous player for you?
- Zubkov is a very good, technical player. And also: Bondarenko and Sudakov are individually strong players. That's why Shakhtar is Shakhtar, they are always dangerous for us.
- Is it realistic for you to compete with them this season?
- Yes, we have no other goal. All competitions in which Dynamo takes part are important to us. Therefore, we will go to every game with the aim of winning.
- What do you think of the other teams?
- To be honest, I'm not interested in other teams. I don't follow them at all.
- But you can't help but see who is at the top of the standings. "Are Kryvbas and Rukh upstarts?
- Rukh has a very young team. I don't know how long they will last. Have they already stumbled in the last round? In the game against LNZ. "Kryvbas is a good team, it has high potential. "Dnipro-1, when Dovbyk was in the team, was clearly stronger. But their ambitions are fine, so they will strive upwards. By the way, so will Zorya. Last season was very good for the Luhansk team, now they have a new coach, some changes are taking place, and we'll see where it leads. It will be clear from the standings at the end of the season who will perform and how.
"Everyone who played badly got it from Sydorchuk"
- What is your comment on Sydorchuk's departure from Dynamo?
- It was only the first game against Vorskla without Sydorchuk. Serhii is a Dynamo legend, our captain. In my opinion, this is a loss. But our further games will show how significant it is for us.
- What was Sydorchuk's role off the field?
- As a captain, he could both "push" and support you.
- Did he give you a hard time?
- Everyone got it, who played badly.
- Brazhko took Sidorchuk's position on the pitch. Do you think he's ready to replace him?
- Yes, he is. Over the year that Brazhko spent at Zorya, he has made significant progress. First of all, in confidence. And he has made improvements in his game components: ball selection, passing accuracy. Although he was different in the academy.
- Did you choose the new captain or was he appointed by Lucescu?
- I don't know. I haven't trained with the team for two weeks. I heard what Yarmolenko said: "There is a war in the country, so there are no elections." Buyalsky took the team out for the game against Vorskla with the captain's armband, so now he is our captain.
"Bondarenko started to 'poison' me when they started writing about Porto"
- "Dynamo scores a lot. What can you say about the attack?
- The fact that we have fast and technical players up front. Yarmolenko is a serious reinforcement for us in attack. He is also a Dynamo legend. Andriy has given so many years to the club. And now, in such a difficult time, he has come to help the team win the championship. We are counting on him.
- Did the relegation from the Conference League make Dynamo's life a little easier?
- You know, it would have been much better if we still made it to the group stage of this competition. But everything happens in football. Now, of course, we are focused on the league and the Ukrainian Cup. When you play for such a big club as Dynamo Kyiv, you should always think only about winning. There is no other way. So we will strive to become champions and Cup winners. It will be difficult for us to do this, but we will fight with all our might.
- Shakhtar will now have a greater game load - is this a plus for Dynamo?
- In principle, we will have more rest, and they will play more. However, Shakhtar will be in better shape. Time will tell whether this is a plus or a minus for us.
- In your opinion, what is better: to play every three days or once a week?
- In order to recover and put myself in order, of course, the Sunday cycle is better.
- Do you watch the Champions League and Conference League matches involving our other teams and cheer for them?
- Of course I do. I watch and support all our teams that play on the international stage. Yes, we are rivals in the domestic arena, but in Europe we have to support each other. After all, we are Ukraine.
- Do you have any friends at Shakhtar?
- I have acquaintances. Sometimes we support each other after games. And sometimes we "poison" each other.
- For example?
- Bondarenko used to "hound" me for Porto. Well, when everyone started writing on the Internet that Vivcharenko could move to a Portuguese club and then to the English Burnley. So Artem started to write comments, suggesting that I should transfer to this club.
- All this talk about your possible sale - to Porto, Burnley - how does it all affect you?
- I take it all in stride. When there is something concrete, then I will react. Otherwise, why waste unnecessary emotions.
- So there were no specifics with Porto and Burnley?
- Honestly, I don't know. If I'm here at Dynamo, then all this was not serious.
"In the future, I would like to play in England"
- Do you see yourself in Dynamo's first team?
- Of course I do. I really want to play in the Dynamo first team all the time. This is one of my goals in life. But first, I need to recover from the injury as soon as possible. Once I get better, I'll start training and getting fit. I will prove in the classroom that I am worthy of it.
- You are a very young player, but do you dream of playing abroad in the future? Which championship do you prefer?
- For me, the top championship is England. I would like to play there in the future. Where our guys play: Zabarnyi, Mykolenko, Zinchenko. I watch every game with their participation, although I support Manchester United.
- What if you get an offer from another European country, not England?
- I don't know. But all European championships are good in their own way. Let's see how my playing career will progress further. I don't want to predict anything in advance. Now I am a player of Dynamo Kyiv, so I will give my best here.
Oleksandr Kalinin
