Renowned manager and expert Vyacheslav Zakhovailo summed up the results of the 2023/24 UPL season.
- As a native Kyivan, I expected one thing from the team - a medal in the cup. There was a war going on in the country and it felt like no one had time for football. Not all the matches could be watched - there were both successful and unsuccessful ones. Some simply lacked football luck. The European Cups are an indicator of what a team is really capable of.
Unfortunately, the results were disappointing, and the team is undergoing a restructuring. There are great hopes for a group of young players - pupils of Dynamo Kyiv. There seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel and it appeared when Shovkovsky took over the club. The style of play after Lucescu changed for the better. The team started to play more balanced, there were more successful matches. The game against Shakhtar was more or less equal, but one mistake led to defeat. Winners are not judged - Shakhtar scored more points and deservedly took the title.
Dynamo's financial situation is not as stable as Shakhtar's, but the bet on their players is paying off. It is almost impossible to attract a player to a country where there is a war. Quality players are unlikely to go to a country where there is a catastrophe.
- Which of Dynamo's players could you single out?
- The team showed its average European level. Perhaps, we can single out Brazhko, who made his debut in the national team and did not spoil anything. The main thing is that he shows a stable game. "Dynamo are travelling at the expense of veterans. Yarmolenko and Buyalsky and company are keeping Dynamo afloat. Both in the dressing room and on the pitch, they play a very important role. Youngsters still have to prove their ability to play in a club like Dynamo Kyiv.
- Who could get more playing time on the pitch?
- I would give more chances to Ponomarenko. He is a very promising guy. I am almost 100% sure that in a year or two, if there are no injuries, Ponomarenko will be the most expensive player in the UPL. Dynamo Kyiv has always been famous for the fact that with a certain periodicity, the White and Blues' strikers have become the best players in Europe: Blokhin, Belanov, Shevchenko.
I also see Dynamo blood in Ponomarenko. Perhaps Shovkovskyi will give him more time on the pitch. Vanat also looks very good, but they are two different strikers. Vladyslav is a light cavalry who plays well in open space, and Matvey is a penalty area player who can push anyone. It's worth having two such forwards in the team.
- What position do you expect to strengthen?
- I would pay attention to the central axis. We need players who can lead the game. "Dynamo has always been famous for its full-backs, who are good at joining attacks. In the future, we have them, but it's a matter of time. And wingers and midfielders must be at the top level. As for athleticism, all the central defenders lack it, and the centre of defence is now the most painful place for Kyiv. The goalkeeping position is good. Neshcheret's season was somewhat "blurred" due to a mistake, but he is still young. Chances will come - he still has to mature.
Some young players should be given the opportunity to move to another team. "Dynamo must implement its transfers with dignity. We won't believe any talks about who is buying whom - we believe Igor Mikhailovich's fax and want the numbers the club needs to be there. We hope that successful performances in the national team at the European Championship will contribute to this. Keeping a team together in such a difficult time is no easy task.
- Which coaches in the UPL can you single out?
- At the beginning of the season, I really liked the work of Maksymov and Kalitvintsev. Their style, charisma and handwriting were noticeable, but this is not enough today. Football clubs are bleeding money and are forced to work with what they have. Kalitvintsev lost his nerve, he is very charismatic, with character. It is a pity that he left Polissya.
Shovkovskyi is still finding his game, his style. Of course, it differs from Lucescu's style, but this transition is so smooth that we can applaud it.
Vernydub is the screwdriver and chisel of our championship. He should also be given his due.
- Who can be called the best player of this season?
- There are players who show promise. Sudakov at Shakhtar looked good in some matches. There are guys who need to be looked at and the European Championship will show everything. It is a big plus that the main core of the team plays in the top championships. I hope that Zinchenko will gain optimal condition, because when he is in good shape, it is a great pleasure to watch him play.
Mykola Tymoshchuk