Former Dynamo forward Viktor Leonenko expressed his opinion on the defeat of Oleksandr Shovkovskyi's team in the first match of the Champions League qualifying playoffs against Salzburg.
Viktor Leonenko- Viktor Yevhenovych, was the result of the Dynamo vs Salzburg match natural?
- Dynamo could have been awarded not one, but three penalties. First, Mikhavko played with his hand while lying down, then he pushed the opponent in the back. It's good that he didn't fall. If he hadn't stayed on his feet, we probably would have heard the referee's whistle.
Shovkovsky is unhappy with the refereeing. Naturally, but, I think, not because Yarmolenko was not given a foul. Most likely, the dissatisfaction is caused by the small number of yellow cards. The game was very tough. The players could have been calmed down with warnings. He didn't do that. The referee was weak. He stepped on my feet so many times, my fingers will be black now. I don't understand why low-level referees are appointed to key Champions League qualifiers. In such a contact game, he issued only four warnings.
Shaparenko could have easily been given a red card. After a push in the back, there was a clear slap in the face. You can't behave like that, it's very ugly. This is not the Ukrainian championship, where everything is allowed. There will be a tougher referee, and such violations will be punished with suspensions. We can only note Popov's shot against the bar. Everything else was either past the goal or at the goalkeeper.
- After the match, Yarmolenko was the most criticized, as he failed to use several good opportunities to score. At least he had them, although it was very difficult to score in those situations, given the large crowd of Salzburg players.
- He made the wrong decisions. He started fiddling with the ball, got confused, lost time. There was a foul on him when the referee had to stop the game - he was hit on the knee. But this is just one moment. And remember the danger at Dynamo's goal. Once again, Bushchan is our best player. The goalkeeper saved the team several times, pulled the ball out of the back nine, and then averted the threat while lying down. Well done and it's good that Popov didn't break his leg. "Salzburg was a head stronger.
- You can't tell from the game.
- Just count the scoring chances. At Dynamo's goal: two penalties were not given, Bushchan saved twice and two Austrians scored. We have one goal. We add one more dangerous moment in the aggregate. It turns out - 2: 6 in favor of the guests. "Salzburg won quite easily.
- A penalty kick for Dynamo. Could it have been avoided?
- The striker played well there. He fooled Karavaev's head. He wanted to pierce the ball, put his foot down and that was it - a penalty. At this level, you can't make gross mistakes, you will be punished.
- Dynamo seemed to be inferior to their opponents in speed.
- Keep in mind that, as they say, Salzburg did not have seven players, including the main scorer. Although the Austrians have a young team, they are very aggressive and well-trained. Here's how they punished Dynamo in the first half. Popov failed in the central area, Dubinchak did not keep up with the striker's rush, and that was it.
- Kyiv acted quite well. And the fans were pushing forward.
- Shovkovskyi says it's a shame that Dynamo can't play at home in European competitions. "Although I don't think many fans would have come to Salzburg in Kyiv. We have a demanding audience - they want stars. Now, however, we miss big football.
- Traveling takes a lot of energy. We play at home, then go to Poland for the European Cups, and then return home for the Ukrainian championship.
- Of course, it's exhausting. But it does not explain the gross mistakes. What was Popov doing in the center of the field? He is a defender, he had to act lower.
- We took risks, attacked with great force. The stakes were high - the Champions League group stage and $20 million in prize money.
- Money was secondary. I wanted to see Dynamo in the Champions League. And with the prize money, we could buy someone to strengthen the team. We need a striker.
- By the way, what's wrong with Vanat?
- It's just that the opposing defenders play very well in defense. This is what happens. In the Ukrainian championship, you can score whenever you want, because Dynamo is head and shoulders above everyone else. By the way, there will be a lot of talk about long trips. We'll see how Shakhtar and Dynamo will cope with them when they play in the group stages of European competitions. That's why Shovkovskyi makes a lot of substitutions during matches.
- It was striking that Dynamo made a lot of mistakes in simple situations.
- Because the level of the players is so high. That's why Shovkovskyi shouted during the match. "Salzburg was a higher class.
- Apart from Bushchan, who else can be noted among Dynamo's players?
- Everyone tried, but they didn't show the required level of play. As usual, everyone was the same. The defenders made gross mistakes - childish mistakes. It seems that in defense, only Dubinchak did not bring danger.
- What do you think about the chances of qualifying for the group stage?
- Of course, Salzburg is the favorite. We may be lucky if Bushchan pulls everything that flies towards his goal. We need to make the right decision about the lineup for the second game. You need to be lucky. And in order to be lucky, you have to work hard, you have to score.
Gennadii Chekhovskyi
