The head coach of Kyiv’s Dynamo, Oleksandr Shovkovskyi, commented on the broadcaster’s stream regarding the draw with Shakhtar (1:1) in the 11th round of the Ukrainian championship.
Oleksandr Shovkovskyi (photo: Oksana Vasyliieva)— The logistics had an impact on the match. We arrived in Kyiv only yesterday at 11:40 and immediately went to the base. The guys slept, rested, and prepared for a training session that was not like we usually do. We, the coaches, did not play, but it was hard for us too.
As for the game, we understood that Shakhtar would be fresher. Two extra days — that’s a lot. We tried to enrich the midfield and utilize the speed on the flanks. Unfortunately, in the first half, Bragari did not get into the game, so we made a substitution during the break. But we immediately conceded an unnecessary goal, in my opinion. Although, let’s be honest, all goals are unnecessary. After that, we tried to apply pressure, Voloshyn had a fantastic chance to score. Then there was a red card. I want to say that the Donetsk team played very aggressively in this game. I understand the tournament situation; they were motivated… And we lacked both freshness and a bit of emotion.
— The substitution of Karavaev — was it a tactical decision?
— Today’s point is an important gain for us in terms of tournament standing. We know Karavaev’s strengths, his capabilities. We also know what he is capable of. His ability to connect, his instincts, and his skill to deliver a targeted pass from the flank — played their part. That’s how it turned out.
— How comfortable do you feel now with +6 in the table?
— We do not look at the tournament position. We prepare for each game. Considering the complicated logistics, every game is a test for the players. You saw that Denys Popov was injured. How serious it is, we do not know yet. Yarmolenko, Pikhaliok, Sebaios, Shepelev… We have certain problems. As of today, we have 19 players.
