The former head coach of Kyiv’s Dynamo and the Ukrainian national team Yozhef Sabo commented on the failed performances of Ukrainian clubs in the European Cups this season.
Yozhef Sabo— After the summer failures in the European Cup arena, Polesie and Kryvbas, the hopes of Ukrainian fans were focused on the successes of Shakhtar and Dynamo, but this did not happen. What do you think: why?
— What can be said here? Only to state: this is the level of our football. And there is nothing to be done about it. Whatever football is today — that is what it is. I have nothing more to say on this matter. I won’t criticize. What is there to criticize? There is no mastery — so what to do? Where to get it? And where to buy it — maybe in a grocery store? So nothing good will come of this. At least, while the war continues.
— From the coaches of our teams that played in the European Cups, we have repeatedly heard about the problems related to logistics. How serious are they for Dynamo and Shakhtar?
— This is indeed one of the important questions. After all, reaching the match venue requires first taking a bus across the border, and then heading to the city from which you fly to the final destination.
But this is one issue. Another, and the most important, is that if a football player lacks skill, no matter how experienced and qualified a coach may be, there’s nothing to be done about it. When I see a player starting to move the ball back instead of moving forward and developing a fast attack, I can’t help but be surprised. Our footballers primarily play like that. Unfortunately, this is not at all the kind of football we need.
— The Turkish clubs Trabzonspor and Eyupspor, which invited Daniil Sikan, Alexander Zubkov, and Taras Stepanenko, respectively, do not belong to the leading category. Could it be that all three of our compatriots will lose the opportunity to be called up to the national team?
— Probably, that will be the case. If we take Stepanenko, I recall an episode from my playing career in this context. There was a lot of criticism directed at me when I was 32. And then I said: that's it, enough — I don’t want to play anymore. So I don’t know what motivated Stepanenko when he left for Turkey.
— Recently, the goalkeeper of the miners Dmitry Riznyk has been showing excellent play. Could he become another football player whom Shakhtar will have to part with in favor of one of the European clubs?
— I think that will indeed be the case. Riznyk is really demonstrating very high-quality play. There are many scouts in Europe right now, who travel and look for good footballers to buy cheaply. If someone wants to buy him, they will buy him. Shakhtar should not be opposed.
— Do you think the English Premier League, where Dynamo player Vladimir Brazhko is being linked, is within his capability?
— I think Wolverhampton will buy him. However, not for long. Brazhko is a good football player, and I am convinced that his future lies in moving up to a more reputable club.
— Just like what has happened in the career of former Dynamo player Ilya Zabarnyi, who has improved his game so much in two years playing for English Bournemouth that serious European clubs would like to see him in their ranks?
— Where will Zabarnyi ultimately go, as the transfer window is about to close? I don’t even know where he will end up. More than one European giant wanted him, but it seems that they are still deciding who will sign this player.
I thought everyone wanted to buy him this winter. However, the transfer window will close — and that’s it. I don’t even know what the issue might be. All the top clubs want to buy, but they don’t want to pay the price that is set for Zabarnyi.
So most likely, Ilya will continue playing for Bournemouth, and by summer, contenders will further discuss his future.
Andrey Pisarenko
