The famous Belarusian coach Oleg Dulub, known for working in Ukraine, expressed his opinion about some Ukrainian football players.
Oleg Dulub— Oleksandr Hladkyi. Why did he not succeed at «Dynamo»?
— It’s hard to answer unequivocally, not being inside the team. Hladkyi was well-suited for Rebrov’s combinational style, but there can be moments where the player and coach's characters are incompatible.
I managed to understand Hladkyi (during my time at "Karpaty," — editor's note), he has very good human qualities. I had a long conversation with him in the sauna. About two hours! I asked him about «Shakhtar», about «Dynamo», and at the end I said to him: «Sasha, you have this time when you need to show already. Help us, and we will help you.» I was very happy when he scored in the very first game.
— Volodymyr Kostevych played very well at «Karpaty» and «Lech», but then his career declined — a transfer to «Dynamo», where he didn’t play a single match, «Rukh», and lower Polish leagues. Why did this happen?
— In terms of football qualities, he had everything at the highest level: a good left foot, the ability to play in three positions — as a wing-back, midfielder, and forward. But in the last matches for «Karpaty», he lost motivation, «his eyes weren’t shining», perhaps, he saw himself already in another team, and at that very time a proposal came from «Lech».
Once again, the managerial genius of Dymytriv did not disappoint. He loaned him with a right of redemption. If Kostevych hadn’t succeeded in Poland, he would have returned, but he did succeed.
As for «Dynamo», in my opinion, a serious injury prevented him from showing himself. After this, Kostevych's career went downhill.
— Let’s move on. Vasyl Kravets.
— I believe he has not fully revealed his potential. Vasya made the wrong club choice at 19. In 2016, he was sought after by «Lugo» from Segunda and «Dynamo» (Kyiv). They offered nearly identical amounts, but Kravets chose the Spanish club. I think agents played a role there, promising him a future in La Liga.
At that time, it would have been best for him to move to «Dynamo». After returning from Spain, Vasya seemed to have lost motivation. He was no longer the same Kravets.
Profile-wise, Vasya is very similar to Mykolenko, or rather the opposite, as Vitaliy is younger. Kravets did a large volume of work and could cover three positions — as a wing-back (he has a good left foot), left center-back, and defensive midfielder.
— Could Kravets have become a starter at «Dynamo»?
— I think so. The style of play of «Dynamo» at that time suited Kravets' playing style. First of all — quick transitions, he could cover the flank alone. Vasya is more versatile, in my opinion, than Mykolenko.
— If Kravets had moved to «Dynamo» then, would we have seen Mykolenko?
— Mykolenko is more a product of Lucescu. He saw and developed his potential. They are somewhat similar to Kravets in profile. Both are fierce, unyielding, and do a large volume of work. When I first saw Mykolenko, the first thing that came to mind was Kravets.
Perhaps, Vasya would have repeated Mykolenko's path at «Dynamo», played for the national team, and was sold to the EPL. Kravets fits the style of England, where the intensity is high, but the Spanish championship — no. He liked challenges, flank runs, and crosses.
Andriy Piskun
