Viktor Skrypnyk, the head coach of Metalist 1925, told us whether he was satisfied with the training camp, whether Dynamo had changed over the winter, and whether he had already decided on the starting line-up for Sunday's match.
Віктор Скрипник (фото: metalist1925.com)- Please tell us how the meeting went? Did you manage to achieve everything you had planned?
- The training camp was professional, we had very good conditions, very good weather, very good opponents. We lost three games, we won three games. But this is a training camp. Probably, we would like to prepare even more, because there are a lot of changes. We have what we have. We hope that it will bring quality results.
- What percentage would you say the team is ready for the start of the second part of the season?
- I won't say, because no coach can say that, he doesn't know where his team stands. Friendly matches are friendly matches. We had quality opponents, we are pleased with the guys' attitude to work, to work. But you don't know, because an official match is an official match. We are playing Dynamo, which is a very difficult opponent for the first match, but we have to play them at some point. So we are very happy to be playing. On Sunday, we will see how much we have prepared for the season.
- What can you say about the opponent? Has Dynamo become a different team, a stronger one, during the break?
- Training camps are held so that the coach who takes over the team during the season has time to let his thoughts work. Let's see. "Dynamo is Dynamo. Those guys who stayed there and this coach who is working, they are not new people for us. I hope, even I am sure, that nothing has changed dramatically. But, probably, there were some developments, we watched them. The results they show only confirm this.
- We are recording the interview on Wednesday. How many positions in the starting line-up for Sunday have you already decided on, and where do you have doubts?
- I already have 70-80 per cent of the starting line-up in my head. But we are still training, God forbid something happens to the guys. I hope I won't need to motivate my team. "Dynamo is our rival, everyone wants to prove themselves against them. But there are still 3-4 positions where something can change. So, 70% is what we have now.
