Dynamo Kyiv defender Oleksandr Karavayev shared his impressions of the 3-0 victory over Veres Rivne in the postponed match of the Ukrainian Premier League Matchday 5.
Oleksandr Karavayev. Photo by Yuriy Yuriev- It was a very difficult game. It was hot, so it was difficult to play, but in equal conditions. Compactness and correct decision-making were at the forefront - if you make accurate passes, you will control the game, and the other team will get tired. It was good that we scored a goal in the dressing room, and it was easier to play in the second half. We followed the coach's instructions, were patient and waited for our chances.
- In the first minutes, Veres defended well with the whole team, but then they had to open up?
- Many teams play very tight in defence. We understand that everyone has their own tactics, their own game. From the first minutes, of course, everyone has a lot of energy, everyone has time to cover zones, players, and therefore it is a little harder. When more time passes, the players get tired, and if you control the game, there will still be moments, you will find these gaps in the defence, and you just have to exploit them.
- You played away to Veres relatively recently, have you drawn any conclusions from that game?
- Of course, we watched that match and their other matches. They play very well and compactly in defence, follow the coach's instructions, so we had to hide them and wait, playing more calmly. We were patient and waited, and then we had to convert our chances.
- Matvey Ponomarenko scored the first goal for Dynamo. Did his teammates congratulate him?
- Of course, we congratulated him. Of course, at the U-19 level, he is used to having an anthropometric advantage over his peers. We also watch the boys' matches. And when he got into adult football, it was a bit difficult for him. We are all constantly advising him. We understand that he is young and hot, but in adult football everything doesn't work out so easily, you have to play more intelligently. He heard everything we advised him, and today he didn't hold on to the ball, and when he had a chance, he made it count. That's what we needed. If he continues to do this, then everything in his career will be very good.
- It was your first time in the starting line-up in a long time. How did you feel?
- Of course, very happy, because when you don't play, your emotional state is not very good. And the physical state, because there is no tone. But I am a professional, I always wait for my moment. It's the coach's decision, he can't put more than 11 players in the squad, and there are more than 20 players in the team. We always have equivalent substitutions, there is a lot of competition. This is Dynamo, there will always be pressure and competition, and everyone has to wait for their chance and use it.
