Ukrainian national team defender Maksym Taloverov, who plays for Austrian LASK, told what Dynamo Kyiv should expect from Salzburg in the Champions League playoffs. It will be recalled that last Saturday, the White and Blues' opponent met LASK in the next round of the Austrian championship and won with a score of 1-0.
Maxim Taloverov- What nuances of Salzburg's game did your coaching staff emphasize before the game on Saturday?
- First of all, we try to focus on our game and show the football we strive for. So we start from ourselves more and look at how much the opponent has dismantled us in order to offer something different, if necessary. We play Salzburg four to five times a season, so we build on our game.
- What was the key factor in your defeat against Salzburg this time?
- We had more dangerous chances than the opponent, but we didn't realize them and, unfortunately, conceded an unnecessary goal that decided the game. Usually, in such matches, the first goal decides everything. It is very difficult to make a comeback in matches against the top 3 teams in Austria. Even after 0-1, it is very difficult to come back and score twice.
- At the end of last season you lost to them 1-7, yesterday 0-1. Is Salzburg not as strong as it used to be?
- It's very sad that our media experts or commentators always focus on the negative. In Austria, on the contrary, everyone was saying that last season LASC was the team that beat Salzburg twice (1-0 away and 3-1 at home). We lost 1-7 in a match that didn't decide anything.
- So, what is the most important thing to know about Salzburg?
- This is a very strong team that sells its best players every year - 2-3-4 players, but remains powerful. I think they were at their peak 4-6 years ago. Now it's more realistic to compete with them and it's getting harder for them in the domestic arena. This is confirmed by the fact that last season Sturm won both the league and the Austrian Cup, although no one has managed to prevent Salzburg from winning any domestic trophies for a very long time.
Nevertheless, I don't think they have become weaker compared to last season. They play every three days, and any meeting with LASC is extremely difficult for them.
- What changes in this team's game do you notice first of all?
- They started playing more risky in defense. They often leave players one-on-one and this is a situation that you can try to take advantage of.
- What kind of football does this team try to play?
- "Salzburg always tries to dominate, press high, be with the ball more, keep the pace, attack, and not slow down for the entire 90 minutes. In addition, they are very well prepared physically. But, given that at the end of each season their leaders leave them, at the start of the new season they take some time to get used to each other, so I think we can find vulnerabilities. They play a lot of young people who are incredibly talented, but in any case, experience is very important. Especially when you play in three days on the fourth.
- Which players of this team did you emphasize?
- They have a strong squad, but I wouldn't single out anyone, because they work well in a team sense. Their youngsters are very motivated, they know what a scene like the Austrian Bundesliga and the Champions League means, so everyone is doing their best to sell themselves. But I wouldn't say that this is a team of egomaniacs. The team matters to them first, and only then individual performance.
- Do you see any particular weaknesses?
- I think that when the ball is intercepted, there will be large areas for counterattacks, which Dynamo players can take advantage of.
- You've probably seen some matches with Dynamo and personally played against Salzburg - what kind of football will you expect in their confrontations?
- I expect that Salzburg will definitely play first in Austria. It's harder to predict an away match. They have a very skilled coach, and perhaps he will prefer not to press high, not to meet on the other side of the field, but to do it in the center of the field.
- What is the key thing Dynamo needs to do in these matches to get through to the group round?
- To score one more goal than Salzburg. How to achieve this is less important.
- How much pressure is there on Salzburg in the context of reaching or not reaching the main stage of the Champions League?
- They have the same mentality as Shakhtar in Ukraine. The team is obliged to play in the Champions League and they always set themselves maximum goals. Perhaps this does not equal pressure, but they definitely have such a goal.
- How big of a trump card will their home game be for Salzburg?
- I can't say that they have incredible fans, because they are a relatively new club. Rapid, Sturm and LASC have stronger, brighter and louder fans. Salzburg plays confidently at home, but I don't think their fans can hinder Dynamo in any way. I assume that in Scotland, Rangers had much more fans and they were louder than they will be in Salzburg.
Kirill Krutogorov
