Igor Belanov, the 1986 Golden Ball winner, analyzed the performance of his former club, Dynamo Kyiv, in the current Champions League draw and recalled interesting facts from his Dynamo career.
Igor Belanov- The first two rivals of the Kyiv team - Serbian Partizan and Scottish Glasgow Rangers - cannot be compared with Salzburg," the specialist believes, "because it has beaten many serious clubs. There is a really good team, and the history of Austrian soccer has many bright pages. As far as I have seen, "Salzburg" has always played with strong opponents and not every of them was not so easy to beat the Austrians. Therefore, the Dynamo players had to prepare for the two-round duels with Salzburg very seriously.
But everything was decided in the first match. In general, Dynamo looked good in Lublin, but in soccer you need to score goals, not just look good. As Valeriy Vasilyevich Lobanovsky said, the most important thing is the result. The game in a large list of matches is forgotten, but the result remains. And even if the team played beautifully, but did not win anything, it can not be recorded as an asset.
As for the second meeting, after Dynamo conceded first, the task regarding its chances to qualify for the next round of the Champions League became much more complicated. It was necessary to score three times, and it turned out to be difficult. Kyivians managed only one goal, although there were several more opportunities after that.
- How would you evaluate Dynamo's performance in two qualifying rounds and the Champions League play-off round in general?
- Of course, it's a pity that Dynamo's performance was so bad. But still it should be taken into account that they played with a good team during the last week. In general, in such a tournament as the Champions League everything depends on how opponents allow Dynamo to play. "Partizan is a weak team, Glasgow Rangers was a bit stronger. And it was worth getting to Salzburg - and Kyivians laid down their arms, failing to make it to the group round.
Therefore, we should not draw conclusions from the game with Partizan, who were shipped as many as nine goals in two games, but should focus on opponents like Salzburg. The level of a team's capabilities is evaluated when you play with strong clubs and beat them. It is against the backdrop of such matches that the real capabilities of a team are determined. But so far I don't see such a level. And it concerns not only Dynamo. As soon as our team faces a more or less serious opponent, then, like a litmus test, it becomes clear who is capable of what.
During my active performances in soccer, a strong team was always an irritant for us. Kyiv Dynamo of the 70-90s always wanted to beat the grands of the leading soccer countries to show themselves at their best. Such as Bayern, Real Madrid, Barcelona. But I don`t see it in our young guys of the current generation. Although every Dynamo player should show character, will, sports chutzpah and anger on the field. If they don`t win in such matches as against Salzburg, it means that they either can`t or are afraid of the opponent. And there is no need to be afraid - in a match with a strong team you need to show yourself. After all, people are watching your game, and then they will say to you: why were you afraid?
- If to continue the Austrian theme, I remember the match between Dynamo Kyiv and Vienna Rapid in the Cup Cup Winners' Cup of 1985/86 season, in which you signed in the opponent's goal more than once.
- I remembered that duel for a long time. Before it I came to Lobanovsky and said: "Valeriy Vasilyevich, I probably deserve an apartment. I have been playing in Dynamo for the second year already, but I live in a service apartment. And I have a family, a child". Before the first match against Rapid, Lobanovsky told me: "If you score two goals, you will get an apartment". And then he said: "Pakult plays in their squad - he is a crazy footballer!". And I told him, "Well, let's see."
And what's interesting: after that, as soon as I said that, everything worked out. That's how psychology works. If I had kept silent, I would not have succeeded. But after talking to Lobanovskiy, I was so wound up that after telling him these words, I had no right to let the coach down. It was always like that during my performances under Valeriy Vasilyevich. Only once I had a problem - however, it was in the USSR national team, in the final match of the European Championship-1988, when I failed to realize a penalty. In all other cases, everything was fine. Moreover, I even calmed Lobanovsky, saying: "Vasilyevich, everything will be fine!". And all because I believed in myself and in the team. All the guys were one monolith.
- And what: they gave you an apartment after the victories over Rapid?
- Of course. In two meetings with the Austrians I scored three goals, and Dynamo reached the semifinals of the Cup Cup Winners' Cup. In the first game I scored two goals, one of which was just crazy. Out of a hundred attempts let me score like that - I wouldn`t have hit it.
So, after the "double" in the away match, I took my wife and child and went to Lobanovsky. I came in and said: "I have fulfilled your wish. And Vasilyevich said: "Yes. But the apartment issue is very difficult". And he adds: he was joking about it. And I told him: "If you are joking, my wife is standing outside. She will come to you now - you can joke with her as much as you like. I'm going home to Odessa." I went out, slamming the door. My wife saw that I was angry, but at that moment Lobanovsky looked out from behind the door and shouted: "Go, take your apartment!". As you can see, he did not let us, Dynamo players, relax(smiles). Yes, it happened. It's already history...
Dmitry Verbinsky
