Former head coach of Kolas Vasylkiv, Yaroslav Vishnyak, shared his impressions of the match of the 3rd round of the main stage of the Europa League between Italian “Roma” and Kyiv’s “Dynamo” (1:0), which took place last Thursday in Rome.
— How surprised were you by Dynamo's starting lineup in this match? Did Shovkovskyi decide to rest the leaders for the match with Shakhtar, which will take place on Sunday?
— I think you are right. Both Roma and Dynamo entered this match looking ahead at their upcoming matches in the league on October 27. For the Romans, it is a tricky away game against Fiorentina in Serie A, and for Dynamo, it’s a classical match. I think the coaches had this in mind. However, I believe that the decision to change the formation and implement rotation was made not only because of the teams’ upcoming matches.
— What exactly do you mean?
— Roma is a vertical team that plays with long passes. The trio of defensive midfielders picks up these balls and accelerates attacks. Therefore, Shovkovskyi's decision to reflect this scheme and play with three central defenders was correct. This allowed for neutralizing Dovbyk's qualities. Popov essentially outplayed Artem, didn't lose in physical battles, won many duels against Artem, and managed to support his teammates in defense. Thus, Popov had a pretty successful game in neutralizing Roma's main attacking force—Dovbyk.
Overall, Roma was not ready to break through such a defense as Dynamo’s. The other issue is that the Kyivans could not transition from defense to attack. There were few counterattacks. If the Dynamo players had their own Dovbyk in their lineup, this scheme could have yielded greater results.
— And Shovkovskyi is not afraid to trust players who mostly start on the bench and sends them out for such a significant match against Roma at the Olimpico Stadium.
— Oleksandr Volodymyrovych doesn’t just say that he counts on all players and has trust in them. He confirms his words with actions. This is a significant plus for the microclimate. After such moments, the team only strengthens because the maximum number of players feels confident as they have game practice in the league and the Europa League.
— Dynamo looked quite organized against Roma, but again they lose in a European Cup match. Three matches in the Europa League—0 scored goals, 0 points gained. What is the reason for such disappointing results for Dynamo?
— It is hard to abstract from the fact that there is a war going on in our country. This weighs heavily on the boys. Also, constant travels are tiring and take a lot of energy. I think they need support.
The team in Dynamo is quite young; the players are gaining valuable experience and will be able to compete in the future. Shovkovskyi’s decision to change the formation indicates the team’s tactical flexibility. The coach is progressing, the players are progressing—this is undeniable. It gives hope for a better future.
— The next two rounds in the Europa League for Dynamo can be called crucial since against Ferencváros and Viktoria (Plzeň), Shovkovskyi's team has a better chance of gaining points.
— Overall yes, but it will be very difficult. Viktoria plays very athletic football; they simply "push" and play well on set pieces, which we underestimate. The Czech national team is currently in good shape, and Czech clubs look quite strong.
So when they say that we have to beat a team from the Czech championship—that’s good, but we must not lose in battles at a minimum. I think that against Viktoria, the Dynamo players might play with three central defenders again to avoid losing duels. But overall, Dynamo will face evenly tough matches where they can win, lose, or draw. I wouldn't count on it getting easier from here.
— Who impressed you among the Dynamo players who came on from the bench?
— I liked all the players that came on as substitutes. They all showed the desire to change the course of the match. Kabayev was active, adding speed and attacking play. Shaparenko in the center added quality, and Brazhko fought and collected neutral balls.
Their substitutions helped push the game into the opponent’s half, where they could connect and create moments. The most important thing is that now Dynamo is a real team that strives to win and gives their all on the field.
— And I can’t help but ask you about your thoughts on the upcoming Classic match that will take place in Kyiv. Do you have a favorite in this confrontation?
— The situation in the standings forces Shakhtar to go forward; they need to win since the gap from the Kyivans is considerable. I think the miners will play as the first number, which will allow Dynamo to act through their own cards—quick transitions, counterattacks. So, in my opinion, the favorite in this match is Shovkovskyi's team, which will be playing at home.
Vladyslav Lyutostanskий