Ukrainian coach Oleksandr Babich commented on the victory of Luhansk "Zorya" over Icelandic "Breidablik" (1:0) in yesterday's match of the 2nd round of the group stage of the Conference League.
Alexander Babich- Ukrainian teams have been delighting us this week in European cups - not so much with their play, but with their results. The match between Breidablik and Zorya was a draw in terms of its content, but the Luhansk side, had they scored a second goal, could have closed the game much earlier than the final whistle.
- However, "Zorya", as it seemed, tried not so much to increase the score, but to keep the minimum advantage...
- After scoring a goal, our team were going to play on the counterattack and catch the Icelanders on mistakes. There was a point in it, and chances too. But I would like to praise Breidablik. They are an experienced team that knows how to be patient and build pressure. However, Zorya players are better than this opponent in terms of speed and talent.
- Perhaps, Zorya still failed to turn on the maximum speed. Didn`t it seem that way to you?
- Yes, we are used to seeing a different Zorya - with a quick transition from defence to attack. Today it didn't happen. Before the break, Kiryukhantsev tried to break into the other team's half, but unfortunately, Antyukh did not provide him with timely and accurate passes. In other words, Zorya still have some work to do. This evening, the Luhansk side needed to show character, because the opponent was strong and very stubborn.
- What happened to Guerrero, who missed so many opportunities to score?
- Of course, it was not his best match. I expected more from him, given that Guerrero's potential is high. However, it should be noted that his teammates rarely supplied him with belts from midfield this time around. Guerrero opened up well, but it wasn't enough use. Still, he was able to create two or three very serious goal situations at other people's gates - both for himself and for his partners. I like that he is not a greedy footballer.
- Antyukh, who was replaced by Kriventsov in the second half, did not have a good game....
- In general, Antyukh worked well, but he tried to take one on himself a lot. I didn`t like his reaction to the shift. The coach decided to strengthen the game, and Antyukh should have understood that and not to show that he was not happy with what was coming from the field.
- Is the coaching hand of Valeriy Kriventsov already noticeable in Zorya?
- Definitely. Zorya had problems with "physics" before his arrival, and now it has changed for the better. The team is moving well, and it is noticeable by the coach's reaction - by the time when substitutions are made. Only in the 77th minute Kriventsov threw in a fresher performer, and made only two substitutions. Zorya worked well without the ball, and for the whole 90 minutes.
- Who can you single out in Zorya's line-up?
- First of all, Turbayevsky, who played the second match in a row on zero. I would give him an A+ on a five-point scale. And in attack I want to praise Gorbach - a creative guy who can beat opponents one-on-one and is not afraid to do it. The school of Dynamo Kyiv is noticeable, plus Gorbach is gaining new knowledge and skills at Zorya.
- How much did the difficult road to Iceland affect Zorya's game?
- I would not mention the issue of logistics in relation to this game. They are trifles. The club, knowing who, where and when the match will take place, calculate everything and adjust the training process to it. There can be a little disruption after such trips, but it is not terrible.
- If Breidablik managed to equalise, would a draw be a tragedy for Zorya?
- Absolutely not. I think that in this group Zorya is quite capable of fighting for second place. In this quartet you can play well with everyone. Three points, undoubtedly, significantly improved the chances of Valeriy Kriventsov's team. Therefore, we can say that the result in the match with Breidablik, given the strategy of the tournament, was the most important.
Oleg Semenchenko
