Head coach of "Dynamo U-19" Ihor Kostiuk commented on the match against Italian "Atalanta" in the 1/16 finals of the UEFA Youth League, in which his team lost in a penalty shootout 6:7 (regular time 3:3).
Ihor Kostiuk (photo: fcdynamo.com)— This match brought joy to the fans. It had everything: intrigue, a series of penalties that unfortunately did not end in our favor. In the first minutes, we were a bit nervous, conceded a goal, but then we equalized, took control of the game, and scored our goals. In the second half, we conceded a ridiculous goal, but continued to create opportunities and could have secured the win if Andriyko and Redushko had converted their chances at the end of the match. But what happened, happened, we move on. This is invaluable experience for the boys, and unfortunately, it has come to an end, although we would have liked to play more in the UEFA Youth League. The experience we gained in these matches is incomparable.
— "Dynamo" was trailing 0:1, then led 3:1 during the match. How did the opponent manage to quickly adapt despite the psychological pressure and level the score?
— You saw the goals they scored; unfortunately, this was a result of defensive errors. We didn’t finish the play in a moment when we could have safely cleared the ball from the zone, but there was a deflection, and it fell to the attacker who scored. I reiterate, in the first minutes, before we conceded the goal, the boys were a bit emotionally unsettled, and there was some stiffness in their actions. Nevertheless, I am glad that we competed with a school like "Atalanta" at an equal level and even had an advantage in some aspects of the game. They are a worthy opponent; it was a good match.
— It was a long and dramatic penalty shootout, resulting in 9 shots. How did you determine which players would take the penalties?
— We have taken penalties for the fourth time now. We lost to "Hoffenheim," lost to "Dynamo" (Zagreb), beat "Deportivo," and now we came back and lost again. We practiced penalties in training, but in the end, players who were substituted went up to take them. Some scored, some didn’t—that’s the game of emotions, a game of nerves that players have when they step up to take a penalty. There’s no need to shame them.
— Ahead is the second part of the season, the championship battle continues, and a decisive period is beginning. What are your plans for further preparation?
— We still have a week of preparation left before the championship. Before this, we specifically prepared for this game and, in general, were well prepared. We have nothing to be ashamed of. We played decently and showed that we can indeed compete with the best football academies and the top teams in Europe.
