Famous journalist Andrei Shakhov spoke about the defeat of Kyiv’s “Dynamo” against Israeli “Maccabi” (1:3) in the first match of the playoff round of the UEFA Europa League qualification.
Andrei Shakhov“Lost again. With a bang, with whistles, with stupid mistakes and strange decisions. The team is very close to failing a second consecutive European season. Last year we talked about how “Dynamo” sacrificed the Europa League for the championship, but now, when the championship has just started, there can be no talk of any sacrifices. Moreover, looking at the team’s performance in Europe, one involuntarily questions whether we were all together covering the helplessness of “Dynamo” under the pretext of this “sacrifice” from the head coach?
After the exit from “Paphos,” Shovkovsky spoke about the need to strengthen the team. Of course, he is right! I believe that the team needs to be renewed every year, strengthened so that there is no stagnation. However, is the head coach of “Dynamo” trying to shift the blame to the club management?
One of the main tasks of a coach is to be able to uncover the potential of the players you have. Remember how Lucescu came (despite my opinion about the former coach of “Shakhtar”), and from those same players that Хацкевич and Михайличенко had, he created a combat-ready team that performed well in the Champions League, despite all the COVID-related problems. And now, can you name players who are currently progressing under Shovkovsky? Thought about it? Now name those who, on the contrary, are regressing. The difference, I agree, is obvious.
The Transfermarkt site estimates the squad of “Paphos” (24 people) at €20.85 million, “Maccabi” (32 players) at €30.03 million, and “Dynamo” (29 players) at €90.6 million. No player from “Maccabi” is rated above €3.5 million, and no player from “Paphos” above €2 million. “Dynamo” has eight players valued at no less than €4 million.
Yes, these amounts are not official and final; they are approximate, but they prove that the issue is not in the squad. The problem is that some teams have coaches who perfectly utilize the potential of their players, and “Dynamo’s” coach fails to do so. “Paphos” primarily and “Maccabi” secondarily have a Team, where players perfectly understand what they must do for victory, and they do it, while the players of “Dynamo” seem to be completely clueless. The players of “Paphos” and “Maccabi” are ready to stand up for their coach, but the players of “Dynamo”...
Why would they fight for a coach who pushes out the leader in the locker room, veteran #1, from training, sending him away, and in various ways tries to prove that he is no longer of value, but still releases him in every important match from the first minutes?
“Dynamo” needed to catch up in two matches against “Paphos” and in the game against “Maccabi.” What do we have? In the entire first match against “Paphos,” there was one shot on target. The same one shot on target was in the second half of the match against the Israeli champion and after the break in the return match against the Cypriots. Doesn’t it seem to you that this is evidence of the fundamental lack of a “Plan B”? One goal scored in three matches against these teams! And this despite many defensive errors, and the game of “Dynamo” during set pieces, especially at their goals, when almost every corner turns into a natural disaster, is something that only “Shakhtar” fans don’t talk about.
In the home match against “Paphos,” the Dynamo players made 25 passes to their goalkeeper and 17 to the forward. The numbers for “Paphos” are 11 and 21 respectively. The four defenders of “Dynamo” received 151 passes, while “Paphos” received 96! Hence the xG is only 0.33, and such a meager number of threats and just shots on goal.
I suggest you draw your own conclusions…”, — wrote Shakhov in his column on the “Fraza” website.
