Oleg Fedorchuk: "I do not consider Kryvbas' situation hopeless"

Oleh Fedorchuk, a well-known coach and now a recognized expert, shared his expectations from Kryvbas's clash with Betis in the Conference League.

- I believe that Yuriy Vernydub, having taken over Kryvbas, has done a huge amount of work in a short period of time. In my opinion, last season Kryvyi Rih jumped over their heads, finishing third in the UPL championship and winning the right to play in the Europa League. But after two consecutive defeats to Viktoria from the Czech Republic and relegation to the Conference League, Kryvbas may be facing reputational risks.

- What do you mean by that?

- A team that wants to see quality legionnaires in its ranks must, first of all, perform well on the international stage. Still, it's no secret that for various reasons - the most important is Russian aggression - the level of the UPL leaves much to be desired. That is why in the upcoming confrontations with Betis, the Kryvyi Rih team must play through the motions and take advantage of their advantage in functional training and game practice. Still, the championship in Spain is only gaining momentum.

- How would you assess Kryvbas' performance at the start of the season?

- Kryvyi Rih lacks stability, hence the fluctuations in the game and the failed second halves. The actions of Kryvbas players are not balanced at the moment, and the gaps in the center of defense are the most worrying. Sometimes, it seems that their defense resembles a kind of passing yard. That's why it will be very important today to see if there is a safety net in the defense and how the goalkeeper will defend his post.

One of Kryvbas' strengths is the charisma of its head coach, Yuriy Vernydub. I remember that when he was at the helm of Zorya, the Luhansk team often made more famous teams reckon with them in European competitions. I hope that this experienced coach will find the right words and solutions, both in preparation and during the battles with Betis. We can agree that the Spanish club is the favorite in these matches, but I do not consider Kryvbas' situation hopeless.