On Saturday, September 21, in the match of the 7th round of the Ukrainian championship Dynamo Kyiv drew with Lviv Rukh with the score 0:0. The match was held in Kyiv at the Dynamo stadium named after Valeriy Lobanovskiy. Here is the post-match press conference of the head coaches of the teams.
Oleksandr SHOVKOVSKY, Dynamo head coach:
- Mikhaylenko and Voloshyn are out of the squad for the second match in a row. What's with them?
- Both one and the second are recovering from injuries. They won`t help us in the next match either.
Oleksandr Shovkovskiy. Photo — Y. Yuriev- Can we consider today's match as a rehearsal for the start of your team in the Europa League?
- I would not put it that way. Every match is equally important for us. And the Europa League is one tournament, and the Ukrainian championship is quite different.
I think the fans enjoyed today's game. Both teams tried to show an attacking game, created chances. Unfortunately, we did not realize our chances, although among them there were a few that we could finish with a goal. But this is soccer, it attracts, that's why it is the number one sport in the world.
Life goes on. I always tell the guys: no matter how the match turns out, after analyzing it, we should forget about it as soon as possible and prepare for the next matches. Especially when the season is in full swing.
Vitaliy Ponomaryov, head coach of "Rukh":
- I think the fans liked today's match. There were a lot of scoring chances. In terms of intensity, the game was also the way the fans like it.
It is clear that Dynamo players are above us in terms of skill level. Almost the entire squad of our rival plays in the national team of Ukraine. And our guys play in the youth national team. So we have something to strive for. But I am grateful to the guys for the game, for their formation today an important result was achieved.
I want to thank Dynamo for a good game and wish the team success in the European arena.
- Today Ruh had a lot of chances. What did your team lacked to score?
- Skill.
- Are you ready to beat Dynamo in Kyiv?
- When the players are formed, it can happen. Then we will be able to compete with any Ukrainian club.
- Taking into account the tight schedule of Dynamo's matches, did you count on the fact that at the end of the game your rival might "get physically tired"?
- I don`t think it could happen. Dynamo has two equal squads and there is a possibility to rotate.
- Today the referee allowed a lot of fighting. How do you feel about this manner of refereeing?
- Positive. It helps the players to be ready to fight. But it is important that all referees interpret the episodes in the same way.
Oleksandr POPOV from the Dynamo stadium named after Valeriy Lobanovskiy
