Former Zorya and Dnipro-1 coach Oleksandr Hrytsay spoke about Shakhtar and Dynamo's losing matches in the European Cups and answered other questions.
- Oleksandr Anatoliyovych, what were your impressions of Shakhtar and Dynamo's matches in the European Cups? Donetsk lost to Atalanta 0-3, and Kyiv lost to Hoffenheim 0-2.
- It seems to me that a lot of hate was directed at Shakhtar and Dynamo. Let's get back to the realities of our lives. Yes, we all want positive emotions from the matches of Ukrainian teams in the European arena. We want Shakhtar and Dynamo to win European competitions. But, unfortunately, at the moment, the Ukrainian championship is inferior to the European top leagues in all respects. And there are objective reasons for this.
- Of course, Serie A and the Bundesliga are different in terms of level from the UPL, but still, what else can you add about Shakhtar?
- If we talk about the Shakhtar vs Atalanta match, the Pitmen lost the first half with a score of 0:11 in terms of shots on goal. The Donetsk team didn't even have any approaches to the goal. On the contrary, I would like to support our players and coaches somewhere. After all, they must be very worried about the results. We need to keep working and glorify Ukraine in the European arena. Yes, it may be difficult to do so in such realities with traveling and other aspects. But we have to be patient and work.
- Many people are now saying that they would like to see Shakhtar and Dynamo score goals in European competitions. In the next matches, Donetsk will play Arsenal at their home ground, and Kyiv will play Roma away from home.
- Speaking of Shakhtar, the question is whether Sikan will be fit for the match against Arsenal. Is he ready to play against the Londoners? "Shakhtar with Sikan and Shakhtar without Sikan are very different teams.
- So, with Sikan in the attack, Shakhtar will have a different game?
- Probably, yes. But the next match for Donetsk is in London, where it is difficult to resist the English giants. I wish the match was at least in Hamburg, but we'll see!
- Dynamo will play Roma in the next round. And the Giallorossi lost to Elfsborg 0:1.
- Yes, the Swedes won this match, but Roma had a lineup rotation.
- Experts often say that after the European Cups, it is difficult for teams to adjust to the domestic championship. What do you think we can expect from the Dynamo vs Kryvbas match ?
- Kryvbas is a team that plays on the counterattack. They try to play at least that way, based on what I see and knowing Yuriy Mykolayovych. Of course, it will be difficult for Dynamo in this match. The game will take place in Kyiv at the Lobanovsky Stadium. The field there is large, wide, and there will be space. Kryvbas will run away on counterattacks. And Dynamo has more opportunities for rotation. Kyiv has a decent team. They have two or three players for each position. But I expect a tough game for both teams.
- And Shakhtar will host LNZ in Lviv. The question is, how will the Donetsk team mentally adjust to the UPL after such a defeat?
- Yes, after this match with Atalanta, Shakhtar received a lot of criticism. It is clear that the players read it. And they need to react to it somehow. And I think that in this match they have to react in a positive way for their club. But the issue here is that LNZ is not an easy team. I don't know how they will play against Shakhtar. But as far as I know, LNZ is currently one of the strongest teams in Ukraine in terms of pressure.
- And they are currently in fifth place in the UPL!
- Yes, they are. And I can't say that they have a weak team in terms of the lineup. This is a fairly confident average. It's a good team.
- What are your thoughts on Oleksandriya? Do you think they will continue to be so confident?
- If I take their victorious match against Kryvbas, which I saw, I would say that the team from Kryvyi Rih should have scored 3-4 goals in the first half and closed the match. But Oleksandriya had some luck. I will pay tribute to the leadership of the Alexandria team. After all, last season their results were not what they expected. But Oleksandriya endured and strengthened, which is the most important thing. The team had decent reinforcements. Perhaps Ruslan Petrovych has simplified the game a bit. It seems to me that Oleksandriya started moving the ball forward a little faster. And thanks to the Brazilians Jevani and Bezerra on the flanks, the team is achieving results. Luck must also be earned somewhere. It will be interesting to watch them.
- What can you say about Oleksandr Filippov, whom you coached at Dnipro-1? Is he progressing well, continuing to score in the UPL this season? Maybe we can try to invite him to the Ukrainian national team like Joselu in Spain?
- Yes! He often scores. Why not? Indeed, Joselu scores for the Spaniards. Why not?
- Moreover, he has already scored a hat-trick this season in the UPL!
- He scored three goals for Shakhtar! Not just anyone, but Shakhtar!
- What do you think about your former Zorya teammate Andriy Lunin, who played for Real Madrid against Lille? Madrid lost 0-1, but the Ukrainian played confidently and scored a super-save! Lunin also said after the match that he was going to continue to fight for a place in the Real Madrid team!
- Yes, Andriy's save was great. To be honest, he did a great job for me! He could have said a long time ago that he would join Chelsea, for example. But he is good in the sense that he is waiting for his chance. After all, Lunin plays for Real Madrid, which is the best club in the world!