Former Dynamo Kyiv striker Oleh Protasov has revealed what he expects from his former team's two-match clash with Salzburg in the Champions League qualifying round playoffs.
Oleg Protasov. Photo by P. Kubanov- Oleh Valeriyovych, many people buried Dynamo in the previous round of the Champions League qualifiers, but Oleksandr Shovkovskyi's team showed character and beat Rangers in two matches (1-1, 2-0). Who do you think is the favorite in the duel between Kyiv and Salzburg?
- I would like to say right away that Salzburg is a very difficult, dangerous team. Even if there are no big names in its lineup. Pepein Leinders has an aggressive team. From the Salzburg games that I have seen, I would also note that this team presses well.
As for Dynamo, the Kyiv team is on a roll, so to speak. The form is still far from optimal, I'm sure, but it's already very good, given that the season has just begun. Shovkovskyi's team is running, playing well in attack, creating chances in every game.
Therefore, given all of the above, I would consider the chances in the first game and the confrontation in general to be 50-50, if we speak objectively. Or subjectively from my point of view. (Smiles).
- Dynamo starts at home again. Of course, only on the officially home field, but it is usually believed that in two-match duels it is better to start away. They say it's more convenient to play tactically, taking into account any result of the first match.
- We have two games away from home. You said correctly that the first match will be played only on the officially home field, so we can't talk about any advantage of home walls, unfortunately. In general, Dynamo has already shown that they don't care where they play: both Partizan and Rangers were defeated by Kyiv at their stadiums.
We could discuss the advantage of Salzburg on the Austrians' home field. I mean, there used to be an artificial turf there, but it was replaced by grass (before Euro 2008 - ed.).
- Do you think we should expect any surprises in Dynamo's starting lineup? Or will the same 11 players come out as in Glasgow against Rangers: like, they don't change the winning lineup.
- It all depends on the tactics for the game. Fortunately, Dynamo hasn't had any more injuries, except for Maksym Dyachuk (who was injured in the return match against Partizan - ed.), so... Only Shovkovsky knows who he will trust to start. As for the fact that the winning lineup is not changed, it's all superstition.
For example, when I worked as a coach, I never thought before matches that it was necessary to release the same players who won the previous game. In my opinion, this approach is already outdated, and Oleksandr is a young and progressive coach.
- About SaShao. What do you think of the White and Blues' performance at the beginning of the new season under his leadership? Most fans are delighted, and experts are gradually beginning to praise Kyiv.
- Shovkovskyi's Dynamo style of play is definitely different from what it was under Lucescu. I am sure that the microclimate in the locker room has become much better, even though I have not been there. You can see that the team is playing with pleasure, so to speak. A good atmosphere always affects good results, and vice versa.
It is clear that Shovkovskyi and his coaching staff want to achieve good results, to prove themselves. Certain sketches of the Dynamo that Oleksandr wants to see can already be seen. However, I repeat, the Kyiv team is not yet at its peak.
It is clear that Shovkovskyi wants to get to the main stage of the Champions League. This will be a success. However, it happens that a team makes it to this stage, but does not understand how to play there and what to do next. My point is that we need to reach the group stage, of course, and there are chances, but we will have to add more to look decent there, and not be a whipping boy.
- Oleksandr Shovkovskyi is a young coach. Can we say that at this stage of his career, the two games against Salzburg are the most important for him?
- Probably yes. However, even if Dynamo fails to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League, life does not end there. Kyiv have already guaranteed themselves a European Cup autumn in the Europa League.
- Do you personally like Shovkovskyi's Dynamo better than Lucescu's team?
- There was a good period for Dynamo under Mircea Lucescu, and we shouldn't forget that. Which team do I like more... I will say this: I have always been in favor of moving forward, developing. It is not worth remembering the old days. What happened is what happened. I like the current Dynamo, but to compare... You know, let's compare it with the Dynamo where I played (Laughs). Not relevant.
- Well, which of the Dynamo players from the beginning of the 2024/25 season should be singled out? Who deserves the most compliments following the first six games of the new campaign in both the UPL and European competitions?
- The leader of Dynamo, if we are talking about the locker room, is definitely Andriy Yarmolenko. If we talk about the best on the field, I would single out Mykola Shaparenko.
Of course, Pikhalenok is a very powerful reinforcement for Dynamo. I've always liked him, by the way.
- What do you think of Kabaev? As for me, at the beginning of the season Vladyslav is on fire, as it is fashionable to say now. There are rumors that he will even receive a call-up to the Ukrainian national team.
- He is a talented player, and if he gets into the national team, he will add more. Such a career development should give him an additional impetus for development.
- Dynamo is undefeated in the 2024/25 season, but there are still questions to ask of the Kyiv team. I still don't really like the White and Blues' defense. Which link in Shovkovskyi's team do you consider the weakest?
- We really still need to work on teamwork in defense. It can be better, as they say. I hope that during the season Shovkovskyi will decide on the optimal combination of defenders, play the connections, there will be no injuries and we will forget about the problems in defense.
- Oleg Protasov's prediction for Dynamo's first match against Salzburg.
- I don't like this business of making predictions, but I think we won't see many goals. Somehow I think that Kyiv will concede. I hope I'm wrong. I think the score will be either 1-1 or 2-1 in favor of Kyiv, which would be a very good result.
Viktor Hlukhenkyi
