Ex-Dynamo Kyiv forward Maksym Shatskikh shared his impressions of his former team's first match against Scottish Rangers (1:1) in the 3rd qualifying round of the Champions League in the air of the YouTube channel "BurBuzz", and also assessed its prospects in the return meeting.
Maxim Shatskikh. Photo: 1927.kiev.ua- I try to watch all Dynamo matches both in Ukraine and in Europe. The meeting with Rangers was not an exception. The whole family watched, worried.
It is clear that Rangers is not Partizan. I am sure that both Dynamo coaching staff and players understood it perfectly well. The Scottish team is much more powerful, much more athletic. The current Rangers combines classic British soccer with European. It was especially evident in the first half: the guests were good on defense and created several unpleasant episodes at Dynamo's goal. If not for Zhora Buschan, we could have conceded much earlier.
Yes, we didn`t create as much in attack as we would have liked, but we had approaches to the opponent`s goal, good chances - too. We could have gotten a little bit more out of this match.
- The reason for the goal in the last seconds of the game?
- I always say to my players: "No serve - no problem". The Scots were focused on flank shots, on wing play. And in this respect, Rangers were quite dangerous. Of course, 10 seconds before the end of the match the concentration is not the same. Especially when it's a tough match. The guys somewhere tried to keep the score, to play on quick transitions. I don`t want to blame anyone. We let them pass, let them run in from deep. And the serve itself was of good quality - the ball flew in where it should not be allowed to fly in. As a result, a shot from three meters.
It is hard to concede such goals, but I am sure that the guys in Dynamo are psychologically strong. I think they will resist.
In Scotland, of course, the game will be a bit different. I don`t think that the hosts will run forward so much, but the stands will drive them. You know the atmosphere at the stadiums in Scotland, the support of the fans. In this regard, Dynamo may have certain difficulties
- Who would you single out in the Dynamo squad based on the results of this match?
- Denis Popov. He played at his level. But we need one more central defender. It`s a pity that Dyachuk got injured. Mikhavko is not a bad guy, but physically it is still hard for him and plus he doesn`t have a lot of game practice. This match he played without any serious mistakes, but there were a few episodes with interceptions of the ball during his passes.
Kolya Shaparenko also played in his own style. Maybe he was replaced a bit early, but it was the decision of the coaching staff. He didn`t make any mistakes, he made a few unconventional passes, he knows how to do it. He threatened the opponent's goal a couple of times. He played at his own level.
- He is called one of Dynamo leaders.
- He is. He is a versatile player. He plays in the tackling and then carries these balls to the attack. He can perform any pass, can shoot on goal. He is aggressive in tackling. He is not that he is one of the leaders, he is Dynamo's leader at the moment.
- And who became the anti-hero of the match?
- There is no such one. There were no such players on the pitch in this match. All the guys tried, fought, fought until the end. Somewhere by the 60th minute they got a bit tired, that's why we made substitutions. I think Shovkovskiy also noticed this fatigue and decided to somehow refresh the team's game. Moreover, there are equal substitutions.
- How would you evaluate Dynamo's game under Shovkovskiy?
- I like that Dynamo started to control the ball more. There is more positional play. It was evident with Partizan: the Serbian team played almost without the ball. The right tactics were chosen. And, as a result, the Dynamo players simply destroyed the opponent, tore him to shreds.
They try to combine. Dynamo has always tried to play on quick transitions, and now the team has the necessary performers for this. If the wingers were a little faster, it would be even easier, and the team would look even more powerful. Although, both Kabaev and Voloshin are also fast. Yarmolenko played all these matches at his level.
There is not enough competition in the offense. Only Vanat is there now. Supriyaga can`t reveal his talent. I think, Dynamo is searching for a striker. Because no soccer player will progress without competition: the psychology of an athlete is so organized that if no one is breathing down his neck, he will not grow.
- What kind of game do you expect from Dynamo in the return match?
- I think that the game will be organized approximately as it was in the return match with Partizan. If we play long-ball, nothing good will come out of it. And if we play more from defense on quick transitions, on counterattacks, then there is a good chance to achieve the result that will suit us. I think that at the moment the chances for overall success in this pair are 50-50. Now we can play with everyone. Dynamo can do everything.
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