In an interview with the UPL TV telegram channel, renowned coach Dmytro Mykhailenko assessed the start of the season for the top 5 clubs of the last championship draw.
Dmytro Mykhailenko. Photo: D. Rudenko- Dnipro-1 has good players and everything to be at the top of the standings. Perhaps we stalled a little at the start, but there is no tragedy in this. Many factors affect the result - the form of a player, the team's chemistry as a whole. It takes time.
- What will be the most important thing for the team to get out of the slump?
- The psychological state. As soon as we manage to improve it, the results will follow and everything will change for the better.
- Is Shakhtar in crisis?
- It's not a crisis, it's a search. They have a hard time winning even in the Ukrainian league. There is neither a confident game nor confident victories. There are a lot of red cards - it's not clear what this is about. It seems to me that the team hasn't come close to gaining form and doesn't really understand what kind of football they should play. It seems that even the coach himself is searching for the best game both in defence and attack. The team is now showing 50-60% of its potential.
- Is there a light at the end of the tunnel, or is it possible to stand still and eventually fail the season?
- That's the problem, because there is no significant progress. It is very difficult to create chances, there is no championship game. The level is not much higher than most other UPL teams.
- Nothing has changed at Dynamo in the off-season. Can they do better than last season?
- I believe that Dynamo will win the championship. Yarmolenko's return is a great asset. He gives experience, class in completing attacks and can solve the episode himself.
- How can you explain Zorya's big failures this season?
- First of all, it is difficult for them to play in several tournaments with so many players. So this season will be very difficult for them.
