The former coach of Kyiv’s Dynamo, Oleksandr Hatskevych commented on his former club winning the title of champions of Ukraine for the 2024/25 season.
Oleksandr Hatskevych— “Dynamo” — champion! Honestly, did you expect gold medals before the start of the championship?
— I am a “Dynamo heart,” so I always expect the championship of my home club. I would point out that the 30th championship for “Dynamo” was also won by the “Dynamo heart” — Oleksandr Shovkovskyi. It is very symbolic. Sashko was born and raised in Kyiv, went through the Dynamo academy, became a legendary goalkeeper, spent his entire career at “Dynamo,” and now celebrates the championship as the head coach. Once, Ihor Mykhailovych Surkis impulsively said that there would be no more “Dynamo hearts” in the club, but these are traditions, and they need to be preserved.
“Dynamo” took the lead from the first round and did not give first place to anyone, so the championship is fully deserved. I am very happy for Oleksandr Shovkovskyi, Oleg Husyev, Serhiy Fedorov, Mykhailo Mykhailov. They showed that our coaches also know how to achieve results and work well.
— Do you agree with the opinion that “Dynamo” was significantly helped this season by the instability of “Shakhtar”?
— I will not say anything about “Shakhtar” at all. Let “Shakhtar” deal with its problems and instability by itself.
— Who played a key role in “Dynamo’s” championship: Shovkovskyi, some of the players, the whole team, or perhaps Ihor Surkis?
— Everyone contributed their part. Shovkovskyi and the coaching staff prepared the players for each match, and the players achieved results on the field, adhering to the coaching instructions. Ihor Mykhailovych also supported the team from his side. It is encouraging that “Dynamo” trusts its graduates.
— Who was the best player of this season in “Dynamo”?
— I am very happy for Vitalii Bujalskyi. I have known him since he was 16, and he has gone through all stages in “Dynamo,” starting from youth teams, going on loan to “Hoverla,” and now he is the captain in the first team and a candidate for the national team. I am very glad that Yarmolenko returned to “Dynamo.” Andriukha shows that football is played not by muscles, but by intelligence. He demonstrates his high level precisely through intellect.
Vanat is doing great. For the second year in a row, he will be the top scorer of the UPL. This already speaks of his stability. Progress of Mykhailenko? Last year, they praised Brazhko in the same way. Let’s not rush to label players. Let young footballers play stably for two or three seasons first, and then we can talk about them. The European cups also showed a lot, but negative experience is also experience.
— Do you see players from “Dynamo” who are already ready to move to a top championship?
— Let’s wait for the European championships; today we are talking about “Dynamo’s” championship. Yes, Mykhailenko is the discovery of the second part of the championship. We must give credit to Shovkovskyi, who was not afraid to bench the player of the Ukrainian national team, Brazhko. I will only be happy if both Brazhko and Mykhailenko play together at a high level.
— In the next season, does “Dynamo” need to renew the team, or can the triumph in the UPL be repeated with the existing players?
— There must be competition in the team. With such a schedule and five substitutions, you need to have 20–25 equal players, so targeted strengthening will not hurt.
— Ukraine lost a direct ticket to the Champions League, and “Dynamo” will start from the second qualifying round. Do you believe that the Kyivans can break into the group stage?
— You must always believe, the potential is there. But besides this, the players themselves must demonstrate their level and professional suitability on the European cup stage.
— “Oleksandriya” won silver medals in the UPL for the first time in history. What do you think, is this a bright flash or will they also fight for medals next season?
— I would like “Oleksandriya” to keep its identity — the coaching staff of Rotan, the backbone of players, and also strengthen to represent Ukraine well in Europe.
Many teams set the task of reaching the European cups, and when they get there, they part ways with the coach and sell players. As a result, it turns out to be a completely different team.
I don’t know what the goal is for “Oleksandriya,” to keep the players or, on the contrary, to sell them and make money on transfers. In any case, Rotan did a great job, and I would be interested to see “Oleksandriya” under his leadership in the new season.
Andrii Piskun
