Former footballer of Kyiv «Dynamo» Mykola Morozюк shared what he expects from the match of his former team against Donetsk «Shakhtar» in the 11th round of the Ukrainian championship, which will take place today in the capital.
— I would like to see quality play from both teams. «Shakhtar» will be more aggressive due to the gap, while «Dynamo» may play for the result.
— «Shakhtar» and «Dynamo» tested themselves against «Arsenal» and «Roma». What do you think of both teams’ performances on the European stage?
— The effect of accumulated fatigue is very influential right now. In the summer, our teams in Europe looked fresher. It’s very difficult, especially during wartime. I can’t imagine constantly being in transit mode while achieving results. Mainly, young players at «Dynamo» are gaining their first experiences. I don’t expect much in Europe, but I want to see a more vibrant game in the championship. I could watch football all day long, but right now it’s simply not interesting to watch the Ukrainian championship.
— «Dynamo» played against «Roma» with three center-backs. Should we expect non-standard moves from «Shakhtar»?
— I think each team can make a surprise. But it’s unlikely we’ll see «Dynamo» with three center-backs. The goal was to involve fewer leaders and save them for the Classic. The players who started in Rome fit perfectly into this model.
— «Shakhtar» has already returned to Ukraine, while «Dynamo» did so later. Could it somehow affect the teams’ chances that the Kyivans played a match on Thursday, while the Donetsk team did so earlier on Tuesday?
— Matches between «Dynamo» and «Shakhtar» play on autopilot, no matter how exhausted you are. You don’t need to seek extra motivation. On the field, you no longer feel it. The psychological and physical aspects come to the forefront. An extra two days for recovery for «Shakhtar» won’t play a big role because «Dynamo» in terms of physicality and a long bench may approach the Classic well.
— Will both teams have enough physical and psychological stamina for a face-to-face duel with little time for recovery?
— Emotions and passions will be on the field, but how they distribute them over 90 minutes is hard to say. In such games, the role of leaders who can carry the teams is crucial. I have experienced many «Dynamo» vs «Shakhtar» matches at youth, youth, and adult levels. No matter what place the teams were in, you couldn’t predict the face-to-face encounters.
— In spring, «Dynamo» was not a favorite against «Shakhtar», and it lost to them twice. Is everything still the same?
— As for me, «Dynamo» is in a better psychological state. They are moving more evenly through the championship. «Shakhtar» does not look very confident right now. In the UPL, it seems the results are there — tricks, combinations, but in Europe, this is not noticeable. «Dynamo», at least partially, looks consistent on several fronts.
— Would a potential loss cost Marіno Pushych his job at «Shakhtar»? A year ago, after the classic match, Luchesku lost his place to Shovkovskiy...
— I feel this game could determine a lot regarding future cooperation with Pushych, like «Dynamo» parted ways with Luchesku a year ago. Many losses, points dropped, the trends are very similar.
When Pushych said after the match with «Arsenal» that he saw a team style in this game, it seemed to me that this was done to divert criticism from himself and the team — no results, but there’s a style, explaining the unconvincing play in Europe. Can you like how Bondar and Matviyenko roll the ball around without advancing? In UPL and UCL — two different «Shakhtars».
— In what ways are the current teams stronger than each other?
— For me, «Dynamo» is currently more balanced and shows a more cohesive picture of the game. It’s not always stable, but there are no significant failures. «Shakhtar» has less than ideal dynamics. Right now, there’s not a big difference between the two teams.
— «Dynamo» has not been able to beat «Shakhtar» in the last six matches. If they win this time, can we say the miners can be detached from the championship race?
— Every series eventually ends. I believe «Dynamo» has the strength to break this unfortunate sequence. Certainly, the Classic gives an important impulse for the next half-year, or even the entire season.
— Pushych and Shovkovskiy have been working with the teams for a year now. Whose work do you appreciate the most?
— Since Pushych arrived, I liked «Shakhtar's» game. It made sense to me. Right now, there’s a lack of vibrant play. If you consider the entire tenure of Shovkovskiy, his work is noticeable to the naked eye. For a complete picture, he just needs a championship win. I admit honestly, it was a real revelation for me that Shovkovskiy would bind himself to coaching. Having crossed paths with him a lot on and off the field, I imagined him as a respected official, a politician, with his depth of thought in some radically different field, having taken everything he could from football.
— Which player will have the key word in the confrontation?
— I am satisfied with Mykhavko's progress, although he has started to make mistakes. This is part of growth, and you can’t get away from it. Kolya Shaparenko must say his crucial word. Sudakov needs to deliver more than his maximum if he wants to receive an invitation to a top championship this winter.
— Can a dark horse intervene in the battle between «Dynamo» and «Shakhtar»? «Oleksandriya» is still maintaining its championship course...
— I don’t believe in that. Maybe I will be critical. I am very happy for «Oleksandriya» and want them to show this kind of game in the future, but «Dynamo» and «Shakhtar» will fight for 1-2 places among themselves. Remember how the leaders of «Kryvbas» claimed they would fight for the title — it was laughable. Football has phenomena like «Leicester», «Girona» from last year. But I don’t believe at all that anyone can pose a long-term challenge to the giants over an extended distance.
Oleksandr Karpenko