Famous Ukrainian coach Mykola Pavlov in his comments on the Ukrainian Cup final, which will be played today between Poltava-based Vorskla and Shakhtar Donetsk, also touched on the Pitmen's recent match with Dynamo Kyiv (1-0) in the 28th round of the Ukrainian championship.
"Now Vorskla are not enviable, only four points separate the team from the relegation zone. I am worried that Vorskla before the match with Shakhtar was not killed morally. Donetsk team can beat anyone now, but Dynamo have shown that you can play with them. The Kyivians played this match very strongly, I liked them.
"Shakhtar" became the champion of Ukraine and can also relax somewhere. There are young guys playing in the Donetsk team. I do not know how the head coach adjusts them. I think a big role is played there by Darijo Srna together with Palkin. A kind of triumvirate - Pusic-Srna-Palkin. But, no matter how much they want to, they will not be able to fully adjust the young guys for the Cup after winning the league.
This is not the same Shakhtar that played against us in 2009, but Vorskla are not the same either. They do not have such experienced guys as Dallku, Krasnoperov, Yesin. But you can tune in for one match and play through "can't".
I want the main time to end in a draw, and Vorskla to win on penalties. Recently I met Darijo Srna at Left Bank and he told me: "Vorskla had one coach who could beat Shakhtar: it was Pavlov". I hope Dolganskiy can do it too," Ukrainian Football quotes Pavlov as saying.