Former defender and former coach of Kyiv “Dynamo” Anatoly Demyanenko talked about what he expects from his former team’s second leg against Cypriot “Paphos” in the 3rd qualifying round of the Champions League, which will take place today in Limassol. Recall, in the first meeting, the Cypriot team celebrated victory with a score of 1:0.
— Anatoly Vasilyevich, were you shocked after the first match “Paphos” - “Dynamo”?
— Basically, yes. I was not satisfied with the game presented by the Kyiv team. Although there were moments, they needed to score. The realization from the Dynamo players is limping on both legs. Now they will have to play back, and on an opponent’s field. However, we must give credit to the opponent; they executed counterattacks well. Cyprus is catching up in its football development; you can’t just beat them easily, you need to give 100 percent.
— Despite the fact that the level of our championship has fallen, there is history and a school. Can a team that aspires to the group stage of the Champions League lose to a representative of the Cypriot league?
— No, of course not. But whether to criticize “Dynamo” or not, it should be done after the return match, in which the fate of the passage to the playoff round will be decided. There are such matches when the game simply doesn’t go. I hope that Alexander Shovkovskiy’s players will be able to correct the situation.
— In your opinion, what was the main reason for the defeat of the Dynamo players?
— It’s simple; the Kyiv team missed the opponent’s counterattack. This means there was a lack of concentration somewhere. I repeat, “Paphos” is a good team; they have qualified legionnaires who make a difference. They didn’t become champions of Cyprus for nothing.
— Who specifically disappointed you?
— The whole team should have played more solidly, confidently, and aggressively.
— During the off-season, the Kyiv team was passive in the transfer market. Could this become a problem in the future?
— You need to be inside the team to have full information. It’s a difficult question. At “Dynamo,” they probably think the team is young and promising.
— How do you see the upcoming match in Limassol?
— I am more than sure that after the first game, “Dynamo” will draw conclusions. It is very important to tune in correctly for the game, and with full dedication and the quality of performers, a positive result needs to be achieved. But most importantly, the team must take the realization of its moments seriously. In the first game, the quality of finishing when creating goal-scoring chances was lacking.
— In your opinion, will Alexander Shovkovskiy take risks from the first minutes?
— It’s hard for me to answer this question. I don’t know what game plan the “Dynamo” coach will come up with. Though the score is not such that they should rush forward from the first minutes, forgetting about defense. It’s important that after the final whistle, Ukrainian fans are satisfied with the final result.
— What is your prediction?
— I don’t like to make predictions, but I think “Dynamo” will advance to the next stage of the competition. You always have to believe in your team.
Sergey Demyanchuk