Former goalkeeper and now well-known Ukrainian coach Yuriy Virt shared his thoughts on the start of the 2024/25 season for Ukrainian clubs.
Yuri Wirth- Some matches of the 1st round of the UPL were postponed due to the participation of the Ukrainian national team in the Olympics. Nevertheless, the lineups of some teams were not too affected despite the players' business trips. How appropriate was it to postpone the matches for this reason? Was it possible to hold these matches?
- Of course, we would like to see a full-fledged championship and fewer postponements. But we see that also in connection with the participation of the national team of Ukraine in qualifying matches, matches will also be postponed. And now the matches are being postponed.
I have a negative attitude to this, and I want to see games played without postponements. Therefore, let's hope that in the future everything will be reduced and there will be no postponements at all.
- Which team, in your opinion, has the strongest squad in terms of player selection?
- Let's single out two teams - Dynamo and Shakhtar. They have equivalent squads. These teams are very well equipped. Speaking ahead, I can say that these are the two teams that will fight for first place.
- Perhaps there will be some third force that can impose a fight on Shakhtar and Dynamo for the championship?
- I don't see such a team. If we talk about the short distance, there may be someone somewhere. In the long run of 30 rounds, I think that Dynamo and Shakhtar will play for first place.
Unfortunately, there is no third force in Ukrainian football yet.
- Last season, the fight for survival was very fierce, which may happen again in this campaign. Do you see any teams that will fight for survival? Which teams are closest to the relegation zone now?
- I don't think I'm going to reveal anything new. Those teams that fought for survival in the last championship will also fight for survival in the current one. Maybe one team will make a surprise somewhere, like Minaj did in the last half of the year, when the team scored a lot of points.
I think the teams that were in the last championship will fight for survival. We still have leaders, mid-table teams, and a group of teams that will fight to avoid relegation.
Yes, there may be surprises somewhere, we do not rule out this option. I think that five or six rounds will take place, and then we can make a more detailed analysis.
- Do you see any team or player who can impress in the new season?
- I think the strengths of the teams are already familiar. Still, it would be interesting to watch Oleksandriya, because the team has been reinforced with experienced players. The team has already played. I think this team can join the group of leaders. This team can make a surprise and fight for high places.
- Last week, Dynamo and Polissya played their first matches in the European Cups. What is your impression of the game of both teams?
- I have mixed impressions. I give a lot of praise to Oleksandr Shovkovskyi and the whole team, who played a great match (Dynamo defeated Partizan 6-2 in the Champions League qualifiers - ed.
If the team continues to adjust and show such a game, then they are now my favorite for the championship. Great game, incredible pace. The team had speed, the flanks worked very well. This is what the audience probably likes - more vertical football, aggressive football, many combinations, goals scored, attacks, shots.
Despite the conceded goals, the team had a very good reaction, they got back into the game, scored three goals at once - well done. The main thing is not to slow down, to move in the direction given by Shovkovsky.
"Polissia"... Let's put it this way - much more was expected (Polissia lost to Slovenian side Olimpija 0-2 in the Conference League qualifiers - ed.) I wanted more aggressive football, bolder football. The absence of a single goal is still not what the club's leaders want to see.
Yes, we can say that there is not enough time, new players, not everything is automatic, the team is just being built. But still, I would like to see more bold and attacking football.
That's why I hope that in the second match we will see a little more daring football from Polissia. I think that Polissia will be able to score one or two goals and still create some intrigue. After all, they have everything to do so, so it's all about the players' attitude.
I think we need to take more risks and play more openly, offensively and aggressively, because Polissia needs to score, and not just one goal. Therefore, we need to take risks, a lot has already been lost, but there is hope that the team will be able to show the kind of football with which we can count on winning.
Anton Hreskiv
