In an exclusive interview with Dynamo.kiev.ua, Oleksandriya head coach Ruslan Rotan answered questions regarding his team's upcoming match against Dynamo Kyiv in the 24th round of the Ukrainian championship, which will be held this Saturday in Oleksandriya.
Ruslan Rotan. Photo — fco.com.ua- "Alexandria" is now at a relatively safe distance from the bottom of the standings, but the European Cup zone, in fact, is already out of reach. How do you manage to motivate the team, what is this motivation?
- I would not say that we are at a safe distance from the bottom of the standings. We are still fighting for survival. Therefore, the result puts pressure on the guys, it is unequivocal. As for the game, we should improve it just in matches with such teams as Dynamo and get confidence in our own abilities. Therefore, the upcoming match is very important for us.
- What changes have you noticed in Dynamo's game in the spring part of the season?
- In this sense I would like to compliment Dynamo and its head coach Oleksandr Shovkovskiy. The team has great players, but what I like most of all is that it plays with structure, that it has balance, that it clearly knows how to go from defence to attack and clearly knows the mechanism of work in the attacking phase.
I think that Dynamo is rightfully one of the best teams of the spring part of the championship. Here I would single out both Dynamo and Shakhtar: they are now showing a really good game.
- In the previous round Dynamo lost points in the match with LNZ (1:1), and quite offensively for themselves. Is it a plus or a minus for Oleksandriya in the context of the upcoming match? After this kind of misfires the team can either be in a psychological hole, or, on the contrary, come to the next match with a great desire to rehabilitate.
- First of all, we must say that it will be two completely different matches in all aspects. And as for the psychological background, I am sure that after the draw with LNZ Dynamo will come to the game much more collected, with a completely different mood - in order to avoid repeating such mistakes.
As for the match with LNZ, in my opinion, Dynamo deserved to win it. The final score was not the game.
Well, we go our own way. For us every match is a learning experience, it is about improving our game. And, of course, the fight in the standings. Therefore, I repeat, it will be a completely different match. In which teams will solve different tasks.
Alexander POPOV, Dynamo.kiev.ua
