Ihor Kostiuk, the coach of Dynamo Kyiv's U-19 team, commented on the results of the UEFA Youth League Champions League second-round draw, where his team's opponent will be the winner of the Lincoln Red Imps (Gibraltar) - Maribor (Slovenia) match.
Igor Kostyuk
- The favorite in this pair is Maribor, which is the reigning champion. They traditionally play in the UEFA Youth League, they are a good team, we know that they are different from others because of their strength, and they are also a good supplier of qualified players to Europe. So I think it will be very interesting. We will approach the confrontation with them with full attention and analyze the opponent in detail. Most likely, we will play with them.
- Are you satisfied with the draw in general?
- This is the draw. Not in the first round, but in the second round we will face difficult opponents. At this stage, all opponents are equal, give or take.
- Will you be able to play everything you planned for the second round?
- There is time to analyze the opponent, understand how they play, and in the next games we will understand what we need to do to be better than Maribor and play the tactics we will use in European competitions. I do not believe that the team from Gibraltar will put up a serious challenge to Maribor in the first qualifying round, but we will analyze these matches to understand the strength of our opponent.
Of course, this is an international experience, we represent our country in the international arena. We set the bar high with our performances in previous seasons of the UEFA Youth League, so we are treated very carefully. Of course, for the players, playing on the international stage is a place where they gain European experience to improve their skills.
