On Wednesday, May 14, in the final match of the Ukrainian Cup of the 2024/25 season, Kyiv’s «Dynamo» lost on penalties to Donetsk’s «Shakhtar» (1:1, penalties — 5:6). The match took place in Zhytomyr at the Central City Stadium «Polesie». We present to you the post-match press conference of the head coach of the capital team, Oleksandr Shovkovsky.
— I think the fans should have enjoyed the game, the tension, the struggle. Although this struggle was uncompromising, everyone adhered to the line not to injure the opponent. Yes, there were emotions, but they cannot be absent when it comes to a final.
It is certainly disappointing to lose on penalties. But we must say that in football, individual actions, individual skill, and mistakes matter. Like, for example, that mistake we made when we conceded the equalizing goal. In that episode, we didn’t play to the end. As always, we will draw conclusions, but conclusions are one thing, and this cost us the Cup.
— What can you say about the refereeing?
— The best referee is the one you don’t notice on the football field when the teams are playing. There are competent authorities that will answer your question, I don’t want to say anything on this matter.
Oleksandr Shovkovsky. Photo — Yu. Yuriev— Your opinion on the decision to hold the final in Zhytomyr, and your impressions of the organization of the match and the quality of the field?
— I thought the least about where we would play, that was not the main thing for us. The field was in decent condition, the atmosphere in the stands was wonderful. I am sure the fans enjoyed themselves today. But I look at all this last.
— Today you made an unusual substitution: Shaparenko for Brazhko. Why did you make that specific decision?
— In what sense was this substitution unusual?
— Usually, you make other substitutions.
— It was my decision based on the situation in the game. So there was nothing unusual about this substitution.
Expect the post-match press conference of the Shakhtar head coach Marino Pusic a little later...
Oleksandr POPOV from Zhytomyr
