On Thursday, September 19, a press conference dedicated to the start of Dynamo Kyiv in the main stage of the Europa League was held. One of the participants of the event was the midfielder of the capital team Oleksandr Karavaev.
Alexander Karavaev. Photo — fcdynamo.com- If we talk about Dynamo's performance in the Champions League qualification, what do you remember first of all?
- I remember the pressure. Because you realize that the Champions League is the most prestigious European Cup tournament and you want to play there. Plus, for the first time our opponent was very principal for us. Everyone understands why. In these matches, of course, we gave our best. And we proved everything we had to prove.
And then we wanted more. A little bit was not enough to achieve our goal - the main stage of the Champions League. But this is soccer. I think everyone can see that the Europa League is inferior to the Champions League, but there are also good level opponents. It will be interesting.
- Now in Europe, many players complain about the large number of matches in a season. What is your position?
- It's enough to look at how many games we play in a season, and how many clubs from the top leagues. They have 50-60 per season, and we - well, if 40. So we can't complain. The main thing is that we have the opportunity to play - everyone knows what our situation is. We have to use this opportunity. We enjoy the fact that we can play our favorite game.
- How do you perceive the new format of the Europa League?
- At first I didn`t understand anything about this format, then I understood it. And in general, when this stage passes, then we will be able to evaluate this new formula. In the old format we understood everything. But now every match will be like the last one. We have to score as many points as possible and then look at our final position. I think it will be very interesting. I think that in this format every team can prove itself.
- This is already the 54th European Cup season for Dynamo. According to this indicator, your team is the most experienced among all your opponents in the main stage of the Europa League. Will this experience help you?
- These are general indicators. We should take the experience of the players who will play this season. In any case, numbers are numbers, and everything will be decided by the preparation for each specific match. Again, since there are no return matches now, each match will be like a final.
- What role does logistics play in the team's results?
- It plays a very big role. Because even 2-3 hours of rest can affect the recovery of a player. And in such a schedule of matches, which we have now, recovery is the first priority.
- Have you watched any matches involving your rivals in the main stage of the Europa League?
- Not yet. First we had Champions League qualification, then it was important to start successfully in the Ukrainian championship. Now, after the next match in the UPL we will switch to our first opponent in the Europa League. When you run ahead, you can lose in preparation for the next game. The main match is the closest one. We will have time to study each of our opponents in the Europa League.
- Which of the opponents in the Europa League is the biggest threat?
- In this format, all teams are equal. So each of the opponents will pose an equally serious threat. But everything will be decided by the soccer field and our preparation.
- Oleksandr, I would like to ask you a non-soccer, but a personal, life question. Your relatives were under occupation. How are they now? Have they managed to move them to a safer place? And do you visit Kherson?
- I have not been to Kherson during this time, unfortunately, I did not have free time for it. My parents survived the occupation. My own brother had a wife with a child there and gave birth to a second child. After the de-occupation they left, and my parents stayed, they were there all winter, and only a week before the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power plant burst, as a result of which the neighborhood where I grew up was flooded the most, they left to my brother and his family in Poland.
On June 6 morning I received about a hundred messages from acquaintances from Odessa, Nikolaev, who had read about the tragedy and offered to help me take my parents out. But, fortunately, my relatives were not there at that moment. But soon my father returned to Kherson and helped those in need. And in the winter my parents finally returned. Of course, I asked a hundred times for them to leave, because there is constant shelling. But they want to be home...
Alexander POPOV from the Parkovy ECC
