On Saturday, April 12, in the match of the 24th round of the Ukrainian Championship, Kyiv’s «Dynamo» defeated Kryvyi Rih’s «Kryvbas» with a score of 2:0. We present to your attention the post-match press conference of the head coach of the capital team, Oleksandr Shovkovskyi.
— First of all, I congratulate all the «Dynamo» fans on the victory. This is a very important win against a very tough opponent: it is very difficult to play against all the teams managed by Yurii Mykolaiovych Vernidub. It is very challenging for any team to come to Kryvyi Rih and play here. This is a very tough opponent for anyone.
Today we had many opportunities to translate our actions into shots on goal and score. Both in the first half and in the second. There were moments for Popov, for Buyalskyi, when he decided not to finish himself but passed to Yarmolenko. There was also a moment for Vanat, but I believe there was a foul on him, a last-ditch foul, leading to the sending off of a «Kryvbas» player. A controversial moment that was interpreted not in our favor. And then Popov’s sending off was also interpreted not in our favor.
Without a doubt, to score, you need to shoot on goal. It’s not enough to create goal-scoring opportunities - you need to shoot on goal. We are working on this. We constantly tell the guys that any combinations need to end with shots on goal.
I am certainly satisfied with the result. As well as the attitude of the guys. However, the anxiety also had its impact. We traveled for two hours from Kropyvnytskyi to this match, where we stopped. Perhaps everything affected today’s game. But the attitude, the motivation of the players — this is certainly a plus.
— Your opinion: is it possible to take football away from Kryvyi Rih, as has often been suggested recently?
— I do not make such decisions. But I understand that «Kryvbas» plays many more matches than all the other teams: it constantly has to finish matches with one opponent or another. This is an additional burden on everyone.
Undoubtedly, there is no common sense in everything that is happening now in our country. But we are fighting for our independence and freedom, and in this regard, we must withstand and do everything possible to preserve our statehood. This is not something we can give — it is something that cannot be taken from us.
But there are circumstances, and the Ukrainian Championship must be completed within certain deadlines. We understand that we play for the fans, but the safety at stadiums must also be ensured.
Thank you, Kryvyi Rih and «Kryvbas», for staying in football, in the game. I wish that peace with our victory comes to our country as soon as possible. And I thank the Armed Forces of Ukraine for allowing us to play football under these conditions. Glory to Ukraine!
Expect the post-match press conference of «Kryvbas» head coach Yurii Vernidub in the next few minutes...
Oleksandr POPOV from Kryvyi Rih