Last Tuesday, August 13, in the return match of the 3rd qualifying round of the Champions League, Dynamo Kyiv defeated Rangers Glasgow 2-0 and advanced to the next stage of the tournament on the basis of the sum of two meetings (1:1, 2:0). Here is the post-match press conference of the Ukrainian team's head coach Oleksandr Shovkovskyi.
Oleksandr Shovkovskyi- First of all, I congratulate all Dynamo fans on the victory. It is a very important victory, very important emotions for our country, for our fans.
We knew perfectly well what a good team we had to play against today, we understood that it would be difficult, that there would be pressure from the spectators. But we also realized that we had nowhere to retreat, we had our own tasks, that the game would be quite difficult. We were ready for it, and I think it was important to cope with the opponent's pressure from the first minutes, to feel the understanding and rhythm of the game. We also told the boys that they needed to play football. There may be some provocations, but they should not give in to them, play to the end and be ready for any course of events.
- Two jokers worked - Pikhalonok and Voloshin, who came on as substitutes in the second half. What did you tell them when you put them on the field?
- Of course, it is much easier to play when you have a numerical advantage. We tried to increase the pressure from the flank so that we had speed and we understood the creativity of the substitutes. In addition, I felt that I had to make some minor changes to make some adjustments to the actions of our players. What exactly I told them will remain between us.
Yes, the substitutions worked, but it's not that, it's the fact that the players were ready to go on the field, to strengthen the game, which they did, helping us to achieve a positive result.
- Is this the most important victory in your coaching career so far?
- Of course, this is an important victory for us. But as of now, this is history, and we have to move on. Only by looking forward, facing the future, will we develop and move on.
- Your colleague Philippe Clement said that the red card for the Rangers player was the worst refereeing decision he had seen in his 30-year coaching career. What do you think about that?
- I have seen worse red cards in my career. But today there are certain rules that all teams follow. And if there is a fight in the air and one player is hit in the face, then it is a yellow card at least.
It was not a straight red card for the Rangers player - it was the second yellow card. And in this case, probably, the mood of the players played a cruel joke on the hosts. The Rangers players were motivated, you saw it yourself, sometimes it seemed to me that they even acted aggressively. I can also understand this, because this is football, there is a desire to win, and it is in the blood. If you look at history, the desire to win is in the blood of the Scots, as well as the Ukrainians. But when you play in such big tournaments, players have to control their emotions, especially if you have a yellow card, you need to be more careful and cautious.
