Expert: “There can be no claims against Shovkovsky: he received players he still needs to teach”

On December 12, Dynamo will hold their next match in the Europa League against the Spanish side Real Sociedad. Well-known coach and expert Oleg Fedorchuk explained whether the absence of several key players due to injuries will impact the game of the Kyiv team:

— It will not be critical. The most significant loss today will be in the center of defense with Mykhavko. Yes, he still has gaps in his technical preparation and positional choice, which leads to own goals, but Taras is a promising player. His ability to make an accurate first pass to his partner when defenders act in a line is particularly valuable.

— Mykhavko is a first-team player. Who can replace him?

— I think Dyachuk, who falls short of Mykhavko in some game aspects, is strong in aerial duels. This is a plus, especially considering that Real Sociedad has several options for finishing attacks and winning aerial duels — it's one of them.

— Now about another injured Dynamo player — Shaparenko, will his absence be felt?

— Mykola makes a good impression when Dynamo has possession of the ball. Since I'm convinced that today Real Sociedad will control the flow of the game, Shaparenko's lack of ability to perform in defense would be of little benefit.

— So, what can the Dynamo players do to compete with Real Sociedad, whose players are in key positions in the Spanish national team?

— Above all, there must be ironclad game discipline. Spanish clubs usually punish even the slightest mistake very skillfully. One must be especially cautious during set pieces, where Real Sociedad has several home-made practices.

It’s also important to be active in the transitional phase: to regain possession, collect the ball, and then exploit space in the opponent's half. To act as Shakhtar did at the beginning of their recent match against Bayern in the Champions League.

— Just in the previous round — against Victoria, Kyiv scored their first goal; can we expect them to earn their first point today?

— The chances are minimal; still, Real Sociedad is the favorite. However, in the Dynamo’s performances on the international stage, a positive trend can be observed, but it's hardly noticeable since Kyiv’s players’ skill level is low. That’s why there can be no claims against coach Oleksandr Shovkovsky: he was given players who still need to be taught.

But football is an unpredictable game, so anything can happen. Recently, Kyiv should have beaten Ferencvaros, but a ridiculous expulsion of Dubinchak spoiled everything. Let’s not bury Dynamo too soon.

Andrii Pysarenko