Former Dynamo Kyiv midfielder Vitaliy Kosovskiy commented on the defeat of his former team from Lazio Rome (0:3) in the 1st round of the main stage of the Europa League.
- The most disappointing thing is the score - 0:3. I think that at the end of the first half Dynamo players had a goal, maybe even two. Then we managed to regain the intrigue and after the break everything could have turned out differently.
- In your opinion, Lazio's quick goal had a negative impact on Kyiv's actions?
- In my opinion, it had no decisive value. If Dynamo had opened the scoring, then with their counterattacking skills they would have had more chances to score if the guests had run forward in a big way. And so in the style of the game little changed after scoring in the opening, because the Romans found a vulnerable place in the central axis of Kyiv.
- Are you referring to the helplessness of the defenders and support of the nominal hosts?
- Yes, this "triangle" at the possession of Georgiy Buschan yesterday did not work, gave failures, which was taken advantage of by the opponent, striking with high performance skills. Believe me, the team play goes awry when you feel that there is a "fire" in the rear. No matter how focused you are on the goal of your opponent, to know that he constantly creates threats in the counter attack, throws off the rhythm, forces you to act with caution.
- But in the previous matches Kyiv's defense lacked reliability. Why were not the right conclusions made during the preparation?
- In Hamburg Dynamo lacked Denis Popov, with his ability to meet the opponent hard, within the rules, to win the top duel. Nevertheless, I would not want to blame Taras Mikhavko, Christian Bilovar, Vladimir Brazhko for all the troubles. These are young, promising players, and they have to go through this crucible of trials.
I remember, when center backs Serhiy Fedorov and Vladislav Vashchuk debuted in the team in the "golden" years of Dynamo, they were not blameless either. But they gradually gained experience and became real masters thanks to their ability to work. I hope that the current Dynamo team will follow the same path. And it's exactly such duels as yesterday's that tell us what deficiencies we should pay attention to.
- But in Hamburg, Dynamo were helpless at Lazio's goal.
- Still, I cannot say that Dynamo's game was hopeless. There was speed, played combinations, only realization was lacking. Lazio players were irresistible in this component, they scored spectacularly even from half chances. After all, that is why the level of Serie A is much higher than the UPL.
- What can Dynamo expect in the Europa League after yesterday's defeat?
- The new formula of the group stage in European cups increases the chances of making it to the next round even after a failure at the start. There are still seven games ahead, and the next one - against Hoffenheim - can be significantly improved if we win. Of course, logistical problems are very worrying, because after a long return by several means of transportation from Hamburg to Kyiv, Dynamo will play on Sunday a calendar match with "Left Bank" in the UPL, again it will be necessary to overcome the marathon distance to Germany. Of course, it will affect negatively on the recovery, training process. But I am optimistic.
Maxim Kovalenko