In an exclusive interview with Dynamo.kiev.ua, former Dynamo midfielder and current coach and expert Serhiy Kovalets shared his impressions of the recent Ukrainian Premier League match between Shakhtar and Dynamo. Serhiy Ivanovych also expressed his opinion on those players of the White and Blues who may receive a call-up to the national team of Ukraine to participate in Euro 2024.
Sergey Kovalets- Serhii, what did you think of Shakhtar's clash with Dynamo in the last round of the UPL? What do you remember the most?
- Of course, it was a great poster - Shakhtar vs Dynamo was the main match of the second part of the season. Kyiv needed a victory to keep the intrigue alive until the end of the championship.
As for the game itself, Shakhtar, having scored, played more for the result, hoping for counterattacks. Shovkovskyi's team had the initiative and his men had chances to equalise. If they had managed to do so, I think the game would have been even more interesting. But Shakhtar were satisfied with a minimal victory, and they did everything to become champions.
- In your opinion, what did Dynamo lack in order to get a positive result for themselves?
- Dynamo tried very hard. The team did everything possible to win. Of course, Dynamo's main trump card since the days of Lobanovskyi is a high-speed transition from defence to attack. "The White and Blues tried to stick to this tactic, but a penalty kick against them forced them to make adjustments. It was time to win back the game, and Shakhtar switched to a defensive approach.
The tension in the match was felt until the last minutes, but the result is what it is. I think it is worth congratulating Dynamo on a good game, because in a difficult time, during the war, this match was watched in many countries around the world. I think they appreciated the level of our UPL.
- What would you say in general about Dynamo's performance in the spring part of the season when Shovkovskyi took over the team?
- Of course, the game makes a positive impression. Even Lucescu said when he decided to leave the team that somewhere he had "overwhelmed" the players with his authority and they could not do what the coach demanded of them. Shovkovskyi relieved this tension. And the players themselves say that theoretical classes have become less frequent, and the atmosphere has improved.
"Dynamo looked quite powerful in the spring part of the season. I was at the matches against Oleksandriya and Minaj and I can say that now the team has a mix of youth and experience. Of course, the recent draws of the White and Blues had a great impact on the fight for the championship, but Kyiv has a very promising and good team. I hope the new season will be better for Dynamo in terms of results.
- Who would you single out among Dynamo's young players? There is a lot of talk about Brazhko, Voloshin...
- Yes, Serhii Rebrov has already called Brazhko to the Ukrainian national team when Stepanenko was unable to play. Volodymyr played quite confidently, solidly.
There are also Voloshyn, Vanat, Dyachuk, Dubinchak, Vivcharenko, Tymchyk. It reminds me of the times when Lobanovskyi returned to Dynamo and took over the team with Shovkovskyi, Rebrov, Vashchuk, Shevchenko. And I have an association that this is the same team now. There are experienced players - Andrii Yarmolenko and Vitalii Buyalskyi. Dynamo has a good team, and everything must be done to ensure that these young players develop and progress. The prospect is quite powerful.
- In your opinion, do Voloshyn and Brazhko deserve a chance to be included in Ukraine's bid for Euro 2024?
- I think that the coaching staff of our national team, led by Rebrov, closely monitors each player, and the players must demonstrate their best qualities on the football field, and the coaches will already determine who will go to Euro 2024.
It should be emphasised that Rebrov and his staff are building this vertical correctly - the youth teams, the youth national team, the national team - everyone should work in the same style, coaches should communicate. This is what happened at Dynamo under Lobanovskyi. By the way, when I worked at Obolon, we also built our work in a similar way: both the first and second teams had the same game plan. The backup team took third place then, we beat Dynamo and Shakhtar.
- What are your expectations from the Ukrainian national team for Euro 2024?
- My hopes are quite powerful and high. It is important that we have 10 team players playing in the leading European championships. These are top teams, top leagues! They are constantly under pressure from fans and the press. The players are already used to this, to full stands, and it is very important that we have reached this European Championship.
Lunin, Tsygankov, Dovbyk, Zinchenko, Mykolenko, Zabarnyi, Mudryk - all from the top championships. So we have a very good prospect of doing well in Germany. It would be nice to get out of the group, and then we'll see.
Volodymyr Bobyr
