Former Ukraine midfielder Yaroslav Khoma shared his impressions of last autumn's events in the domestic Premier League with Komanda1.
- We were left with mixed impressions. Thanks to the progress of Kryvbas, Polissia and Rukh, there is now intrigue in the fight for places in the top group. Previously, everything was decided in the rivalry between the giants Dynamo and Shakhtar, with the rest of the teams, as they say, on the back foot. Now the situation has changed somewhat. Although I do not believe that the level of football has risen, rather, the class of participants has simply levelled out. So it is not surprising that our representatives lack the strength to perform well on the international stage.
- How can you explain this stagnation?
- Ukraine is at war and the conditions for training have become more difficult. Several teams are like "Flying Dutchmen" who have been forced to leave their places of residence. Of course, this had a negative impact on both their psychological and physical condition. It took a lot of time to solve logistical issues. The number of qualified legionnaires in the championship has also significantly decreased. However, it is very good that the championship is held under martial law, otherwise it would be very difficult to overcome the gap. By the way, in my opinion, it will greatly contribute to increasing interest in the UPL and the return of fans to the stands, which is possible next spring.
- Which team's performance was a pleasant surprise for you?
- Rukh, which has a large group of young players. It is no coincidence that it was the Lviv team that defeated other troublemakers, Kryvbas and Polissia, away from home. Rukh already has its own style, which cannot be confused with any other. We should pay tribute to the manager Vitaliy Ponomarev, who makes his players act intensively, with an emphasis on attack. However, Lviv were not always stable, which can be explained by their youth.
- Which teams did you expect more from?
- First of all, from Zorya and Minaj, who have lost a lot of ground. And it's not just about the changes on the coaching staff. The club management is more to blame, as after the successes of Luhansk and Zakarpattia last season, they did not take care to strengthen the squad. Moreover, there were some personnel losses. To be fair, Minaj often suffered from referee arbitrariness. Unfortunately, we have to admit that the level of arbitration does not meet the necessary requirements. Even the most experienced Monzul, Romanov and Kozik made mistakes. I agree that football has become much faster, it is difficult to react, which means we need to be better prepared. Moreover, the VAR system was used in many matches.
- Finally, would you like to try yourself as an oracle?
- In my opinion, Shakhtar have the best chance of becoming the champions. Even if the Miners do not retain their leaders during the winter transfer window, they have a more balanced squad compared to their rivals. The Donetsk team has considerable international experience, both in the Champions League and with the Ukrainian national team.
Kyiv Dynamo have not lost everything yet. In my opinion, their ex-manager Mircea Lucescu should have resigned earlier, as the capital's players have not progressed under his leadership in recent years. If Kyiv add two or three quality players in the coming months, they can still compete with Shakhtar in the fight for gold.
As for the losers, I think only Minaj is already doomed. Almost all experienced players left the team in November, and it will be difficult to find replacements. In the end, the club management of the Transcarpathians seems to have accepted the fact that relegation is unavoidable.
We can only hope that all our clubs will work hard at the training camps and face the spring tests fully prepared. This will also benefit the national team of Ukraine, which will have a tough fight for a ticket to the European Championships in March.
Vasyl Mikhailov