Former Metalist and Dnipro-1 coach Oleksandr Kucher shared his expectations for tomorrow's match between Dynamo and Salzburg in the Champions League playoffs.
- It will be a very interesting game, as both teams play very dynamic football. Both Dynamo and Salzburg look good right now. We all saw the game of Kyiv in the Champions League qualifiers, in the league, they combine and run very well. Therefore, I expect a very interesting game, I want Dynamo to win because we need points in the coefficient table.
- Yes, in the Champions League, Kyiv showed a good game - they beat Partizan and Rangers. However, Salzburg was a regular participant in the Champions League group stage. What kind of football does Dynamo need to play against the Austrians to go to the away match with a satisfactory result?
- Of course, it will be very difficult to play against Salzburg both at home and away, because the Austrians are physically fit. I think that there will be a lot of vertical football, Salzburg players will run, turn on, and Kyiv team needs to be careful. We need to play reliably in defense, we know that Dynamo has injured defenders, let's see who Oleksandr Shovkovskyi will put in the lineup for this game. We need to be careful not to allow the Austrians to attack. We need to score and keep the goal dry, then it will be easier on the road and Dynamo will catch Salzburg on counterattacks.
- What are Dynamo's strengths before this match?
- It is necessary for Kyiv residents to play for each other, to play as a team. We need the players to turn on the speed, play vertically, so that they can score faster.
- In the match against Karpaty, Oleksandr Shovkovskyi saved Shaparenko, Brazhko, and Yarmolenko. But did Lviv manage to show Salzburg Dynamo's weaknesses?
- We understood that Shovkovskyi would protect the leaders, he has a clip now. He takes care of the players, because he understands that Dynamo had difficult games with Rangers, traveling, it is not always easy. When it's back-to-back games, when you play two games every week, it's very hard, the guys get tired. Shovkovskyi made substitutions, let the young guys play. Everything will be different against Salzburg.
- Dynamo plays well in European competitions against Austrian teams. Out of eight matches, in seven cases, Kyiv went on to win. How much do such facts help before matches?
- No one pays attention to this, because each game is a different story that needs to be approached carefully. You don't need to look back at the fact that someone was defeated.
- What is your prediction for the match?
- Of course, I want Dynamo to win. I think it will be a minimal victory for Kyiv - 1-0.
Andrii Pavlenko