Viktor Leonenko: "We scored twice, but where are the chances?"

Former Dynamo Kyiv forward Viktor Leonenko commented on the match of the third qualifying round of the Champions League between Rangers and Dynamo (0: 2).

- Viktor Yevhenovych, how do you like Dynamo's game?

- Kyiv should make a present for the referee and the Brazilian player. I never understood why the Rangers player received a red card. I did not see an outright elbow. Especially since, as a rule, referees are more lenient with all the English, Scots, and Irish during the game up top.

- But he elbowed me a little bit on the neck.

- So, if he had. Jefte jumped half a meter higher, there was no struggle as such in the air. The referee ruled that it was in our favor. We won and it was good. However, Shovkovsky says that they had nowhere to retreat. Then why were there no chances to score? So that we could talk about poor realization. You can also talk about three boxes here, that we unwound them and pressed them in the end... Did you count how many shots Dynamo took on goal?

- At the end of the match, maybe.

- The problem of the 90s remains. Moments are created like a cat crying, and even those without finishing shots. When goalkeepers are warmed up, they are not hit hard in the arms. So do Dynamo players - they warm up the goalkeeper so that he does not freeze.

It's good, of course, that we passed. And how will we look if we get to the main stage of the Champions League? There is no need to predict here. We will suffer because we do not create chances.

- Yesterday, we could have turned on the TV in the 80th minute of the match and would not have lost anything.

- The second goal, yes, was great. A long wall, so to speak. The transfer to the flank, and Voloshyn and Shaparenko played the ball cleverly. If Mykola hadn't managed to pass in that situation, he could have been replaced immediately.

- What do you think of Vanat's actions?

- I don't think so. What was required of me was that if I couldn't score, I had to pass the ball. And that's what I did. Can you remember how many times Vanat shot on goal?

- At the end of the match, when he was one-on-one with the goalkeeper and missed the goal.

- That was when Rangers created the sharpness at their own goal. There are strikers who don't need to create chances, who only have to finish attacks. Vanat has other functions. Where was he and what did he create? In a game against a team that is neither stronger nor weaker than Dynamo. They write that Inter is buying him, but here is an average opponent and that's it - the guy is gone. He ran, tried, but it was not enough. In the first meeting, he helped Yarmolenko score, but here he had no shots or sharp passes at all. If a forward does not score, then his work should be done by the midfielders. And they hit in such a way that there is nothing dangerous near the goal - with such efficiency you can hit from the center of the field.

- Some players have problems with the accentuated shot.

- I can imagine what the problem would be if they played with a leather ball. But with this ball you can hit from anywhere. I still think: what is easier - this ball or the cleats?

It's like the Olympics and the European Championships. We reached the finals, but in the end we are disappointed. The fans will watch and be bored. Who will watch if there are no shots on goal?

- But there were some positive moments in the match, you must admit.

- We should be happy that we had flank passes. True, they did not find anyone: either Yarmolenko would not be in time, or the ball would go the wrong way. But it's good that it works.

- The ball control was also good.

- Keep in mind that the opponent is not stronger. You have to look at who was the leader on the field. I didn't see any. I'm looking with a flashlight and can't find them. They have deflated. When you need them, they are not there. Although every team counts on them. This is the main problem. Yes, we controlled the ball, but who needs this control in their own zone?

- Popov had a good match, Brazhko started to give out long passes more actively.

- As for the defense, I can say that everyone did well. The Scots had no serious chances to score. We will give the defenders an A. And the attack - zero, to gather everyone in a bag and off the bridge.

If they hadn't released Pikhalenko, we would have played in a square until the end of the game. The guy came on and just scored. He always attacks whenever there is an opportunity - the shot is delivered. Just like Aliyev used to do. In this episode, the Scottish defender prevented the goalkeeper from seeing the moment of the shot in time. There are also questions about why Pikhalonok did not come on earlier, why he is sitting in reserve.

- Probably, Shovkovsky was satisfied with the play of the middle line.

- I don't think so. When chances are not created, the question arises as to what the players are doing on the field. Vanat disappeared, Yarmolenko disappeared, Buljasky looked like the captain's armband was too heavy for him. Before you called, I was thinking who could be honored. It turns out that everyone is the same.

- In the playoffs, we went to Salzburg. With such a game, do you think Dynamo will make it to the main round?

- The Austrian team is the same as the Scottish team. We can also win by creating a minimum of chances. We'll give the defenders an A, and the attack a zero.

- It is possible that before the main round of the Champions League, Dynamo will be strengthened by skillful players.

- I heard such promises back in the days of Lucescu. They deceived my grandfather. We need to buy not one player, and not two. The attack needs to be strengthened - we need midfielders and strikers. Dynamo can defend and destroy, but they also need to create.

After the first game against Rangers, Vanat, Brazhko, Karavaev, and Yarmolenko were rested in the match against Veres. That is, the championship has not yet begun, and they are already being given the opportunity to rest. This is despite the fact that five substitutions are allowed. And the players are already tired...

Hennadii Chekhovskyi