In the first match of the third qualifying round of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League, Kyiv Dynamo drew 1-1 against Scottish Rangers in Lublin, failing to hold on to the winning score in the last minute of the match. Former Dynamo head coach Oleksandr Hatskevych shared his thoughts on the game.
- Oleksandr Mykolayovych, in your opinion, was the draw in Lublin natural?
- If we evaluate the team play, then, in my opinion, Dynamo looked a little more convincing on the field. Both teams started the match at a high pace, Rangers even managed to press Kyiv quite well, but in general, Dynamo started the game. Our team's interaction and combinations were at a good level, they created chances and eventually scored a goal, going into the break with an acceptable score.
- What happened in the last minute of the match in the Dynamo penalty area?
- There are a lot of explanations: concentration, individual mistakes in goal defense. But I would not like to focus on this. There is the result of the first match, which we need to build on to prepare for the second game in Scotland. There are still 90 minutes ahead, and we can eventually overcome the Scottish barrier.
Once again, I emphasize that, in my opinion, Dynamo looked more interesting in terms of the quality of the game and their condition. The only thing the fans and the coaching staff can be dissatisfied with is the final score of 1:1, especially since it is always a shame to lose a winning score in the last minute of the game. Dynamo is not satisfied with the score, but the return leg will put everything in its place.
- In the second half in Lublin, Dynamo were not as convincing as they were before the break. Was it Rangers who added to their performance, or did Kyiv decide to play to keep the score close?
- This is a psychology that big teams have, even Real Madrid. When the match is over and the score is minimal, subconsciously the players still have a desire to keep the winning result. The Dynamo team probably wanted to take the initiative after the break and play using the space, which the current Dynamo team is quite good at. Especially since they have fast players on the flanks, including Vanat in the attack. But we must pay tribute to the opponent. "Rangers" in the second half added both in ball control and aggression, so you need to be ready for such moments in the return match.
- Will Rangers be the favorite in the return leg, given that Kyiv will play in Scotland?
- Of course, the pressure of the stands, the full stadium, all this will put pressure on our team. But today, in Oleksandr Shovkovskyi's team, I see that the guys understand what to do on the football field, how to implement his ideas in the game, their own philosophy, all of which Dynamo now has. That's why I wish the Kyiv team a victory in Scotland, because even despite the 1-1 home result, the Scots will not be favorites in the second leg.
Dmytro Verbynskyi