Sergiy Chuichenko on the game "Kryvbas" - "Betis": "Spaniards are a head above our team"

Former Ukrainian striker Serhiy Chuichenko commented on the defeat of Kryvbas from Spanish Betis (0:2) in the first play-off match of the qualification of the Conference League 2024/2025.

- It is difficult to comment on something when one team is much stronger than the other. We saw this difference in the game between Kryvbas and Betis.

- Yes, in all components the Spaniards are a head above our team: in pressing, ball possession and other actions. The Spaniards, having scored the first goal, started to play calmly, not worrying about the final outcome. There was a feeling, the guests realized that sooner or later they will kill as many more as necessary. They played at their own pleasure. And we won an easy victory on class.

- "Betis" won the match without any effort, doing it at an average and steady pace.

- Our misfortune is in the level of Ukrainian and Spanish championships. The class of La Liga is incomparable to ours. "Betis" had a complete advantage throughout the game, if we needed to add, we would have done it without much difficulty.

- Interestingly, Kryvbas had five foreigners in the starting lineup, but it did not help.

- I agree. They showed themselves in some episodes, but they were not enough in the overall team actions. There were a lot of mistakes in defense, and the team is stronger than the class, immediately uses its chances, calmly bringing the match to a logical result.

- The 0:2 defeat is still a good end. The score could have been crushing.

- There is nothing to add. With a clear advantage of one team, it's good that it ended this way. Again, "Betis" not straining, playing at their own pleasure, got what they needed.

- Such matches for Kryvbas are an invaluable experience, a pointer on what path to follow.

- The team, led by Yuriy Vernidub, played in the first league two years ago and in such a short period of time achieved success, taking third place in the last championship. Vernidub deserves praise, he is a top coach. We need to take into account the fact that we have a war, and it is very difficult to invite good players to our championship. He works with what he has. This is a problem for most clubs. Even the return game in Spain, where, we realize, there is no chance, is also a small experience in the future building a good team.