Ihor Yavorskyi, the former coach of Niva Ternopil and Lviv, has assessed the performance of Luhansk's Zorya in the European Cup campaign.
Igor Yavorsky- The miracle did not happen. And in Ghent, Zorya's actions resembled those of the characters in the fable of the swan, the crayfish and the pike, each pulling in its own direction. Of course, it was of no use.
- But on the eve of the match in Belgium, experts said that at least in the final game Zorya could slam the door and make the hosts panic.
- These were overly bold predictions. How can you expect anything with such a helpless defence? Did you notice any creativity in the midfielders' actions? I agree that Luhansk's only striker Guerrero has a goal-scoring sense, but he is one of those who needs the support of his partners. It was not there not only yesterday, but also in previous matches. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Panamanian is said to be on a starvation diet.
- And yet, how do you explain the fact that Zorya, which has long been visible in Ukrainian football and has proven itself well in the international arena, suddenly slowed down sharply?
- That's an understatement, because it is degrading, and this destructive process will not be easy to stop. Unfortunately, Zorya is currently suffering from frequent changes on the coaching staff. Secondly, somehow the time for recruitment was missed and no equivalent replacement for the players who left Zorya was found. Relying on the loaned players of Dynamo Kyiv did not work. There were also problems with the setting up for calendar matches. As you can see, wherever you throw it, there is a wedge.
- In your opinion, will Yuriy Koval cope with the role of crisis manager?
- I have known Koval for a long time, he is a qualified specialist. His arrival at the helm was primarily associated with an improvement in the team's microclimate. This is not yet noticeable. I think that Koval will not hold this position for long, because it seems that the club management of Zorya prioritises foreign coaches. Although, given the Russian aggression and martial law in Ukraine, it will be very difficult to convince a reputable foreign coach to come to Luhansk.
