The legendary coach of Volyn, Vitaliy Kvaratsyany, analyzed the matches of Ukrainian teams in the qualifiers for the Europa League and the Conference League.
— Vitaliy Volodymyrovych, let’s start our review with the matches of Dynamo. Why did the Kyivans look so dispirited?
— I will start with the fact that I have a positive attitude towards the coaching staff of Dynamo, headed by Shovkovskyi, so I don’t want to criticize too much. Of course, the result is negative. In the game, Dynamo displayed poor quality and illogical football.
The Kyivans showed a lot of backward play, which disorganized them. Only risk leads to development. If players do not take risks, they will not rise to a new level. Excessive caution leads to mistakes, and there were many in the match against Maccabi.
— What else did you not like about Dynamo’s game?
— The defense of the Kyivans is playing very uncertainly, plus there’s a lack of coordination in the tackles, both from the left back (Vyvcharenko) and the right (Karavaev). Tymchyk did not play, but he has the same problem. They grab opponents by the arms, by the shirts, they dive into tackles. What is this? A lack of athleticism, coordination, or skill? You don’t win the ball like that.
Also, Dynamo has reduced its anticipatory play in terms of quality. If you anticipate correctly, then you don’t have to dive into tackles afterward.
The two central defenders, Popov and Bilovar, also played uncertainly. And when there is uncertainty at the back, the midfield starts to limp. The attack is also not going well. Attacking actions need to conclude with a final shot, and only then “die,” while in Dynamo, they “die” before the shot and then lack the strength for the shot; the ball does not respond to their feet.
This component needs work. Dynamo has fields, a base, a bus, quality medicine, and nutrition, which some other Ukrainian teams lack. Yes, travel affects them, but the Kyivans knew what they were getting into when they entered European competitions.
— It’s clear about the defense, but why did Dynamo play so passively in attack, practically creating nothing by Maccabi’s goal?
— A loss of concentration. Attackers must finish attacks with a shot. These endless passes near the penalty area do not enrich and do not give development. Such stagnant play creates many losses. Why give sideways passes when you can carry the ball and shoot, causing constant tension for the opponent.
You need to strike in a way that breaks goalposts and makes spines creak. But in Dynamo, no one breaks goalposts, and no spines creak; they only throw balloons, chop, and cut in. I have advice for the players of Dynamo: let them wear the boots that Beckenbauer, Muntyan, or Onyshchenko played in, not these air galoshes and house slippers of all the colors of the rainbow: green, red, orange! And we see this not only in Dynamo.
There are players who adapt and score even in those boots. Just yesterday, Sudakov shot well; concentration was noticeable. Dynamo has problems in defense and in the finishing stage of attack; there is uncertainty present. In midfield, Mykhailychenko constantly passes it back to defenders. Get rid of these unnecessary short passes. Dynamo’s game lacks dynamics. Players fear losing the ball, and as a result, lose more than ever. Don’t be afraid to take risks!
— Don’t you think that Dynamo should have strengthened before the start of the season?
— I think Shovkovskyi would like other players, but for now, they have to play with what they have. The plus side is that Ukrainian footballers play in Dynamo, but player development should focus on the national team, which will be playing in two and a half weeks. What will we do against France when we have few individual actions? Although, when the national team prepares in extreme conditions, they are pulled up, and in the national team camp, there is a completely different aura and different requirements.
— Can you single anyone out in Dynamo’s game against Maccabi?
— No one. Everyone was completely absent. The whole team took a step back in confidence, skill, and the desire to score one more goal than the opponent.
— What do you expect from the second leg? After such a game, it seems that there are practically no chances, and Dynamo is waiting for the Conference League.
— No matter how we feel about today’s results, everyone is rooting for Dynamo because it’s a club with a great history. Therefore, the Dynamo players cannot play like they did in the first match against Maccabi.
The Kyivans handle the ball well, but there’s a lack of uniqueness and no finishing. There are always chances; the main thing is for the Dynamo players to believe in it themselves. Maccabi is not Barcelona, whom the Kyivans once beat 3:0; anything can happen in a match with the Israelis.
— Your prediction?
— Dynamo will win 2:1, just barely missing out. But I want it to be 3:1, with extra time and passing on penalties. Let Neshcheret already prepare for a series of penalties.
— Let’s move on to Shakhtar’s match. The Miners had 23 shots on goal against Servette but scored only once. What do you think of the game?
— Shakhtar played wonderfully yesterday; it was pleasant to watch; they created a lot of moments but lacked finishing. I am 99% sure that Shakhtar will progress. Servette is not an athletic team, like Feyenoord or Red Star. It’s a typically playing team, but Shakhtar is two heads stronger in class and tactics. There are footballers in the Donetsk team who can decide the outcome of the match.
— Shakhtar conceded a quick goal from a corner kick. The defenders of the Donetsk team allowed an opponent to stay alone in the penalty area. How do you interpret this?
— If Hacherydi had played for Shakhtar yesterday, that conceded goal wouldn’t have happened. I never mistake in players. I worked with him in Volyn, then this work was continued by Luzhnyi in Dynamo. Oleg individually polished Zhenya, explained everything to him, taught him, and brought him to a high level, while Gazzaev and Syomin already utilized him when the dirty work was done. I was sure that Hacherydi would play for the national team.
Initially, Hacherydi was offered to Shakhtar, but they didn’t want to take him, and at that time, I couldn’t help because I didn’t know him yet. Then Dynamo turned him down. I spoke with Luzhnyi; he looked at Zhenya, and he impressed him. Oleg ultimately convinced Dynamo to take Hacherydi. We need to polish footballers and work with them.
Messi and Yamal will not be born in Ukraine because in Argentina and Spain, football is played all year round, while we are thinking about where to train in the fall and winter because in the halls during this time, bankers and power workers play, and children have nowhere to train.
— Shakhtar has a problem with forwards. Traore is constantly injured, and against Servette, Kaua Elias got injured, and there are no pure forwards left.
— I have long said that there are no quality forwards in Shakhtar. Traore is not a forward for Shakhtar. He has been in the Donetsk team for three years, but during this time, he has not shown anything.
At one time, I offered Sergey Petrov to Dynamo and Shakhtar, and everyone laughed at me. Yes, he lost himself with unfootball-like behavior, but he was a very strong player at that time.
He was already prepared for the game for Mariupol by Babich; Shakhtar should have signed him and sent him there on loan. Pal’kin came with agent Shabli, and in the end, the contract with Petrov was not signed because Sergey did not want to become Shabliy’s client. I think Akhmetov did not know about this story.
Then I offered Petrov to Dynamo when Krasykov was there, but they were also afraid to take him, even though he played wonderfully in Agrobusiness. After that, Sergey got a serious injury, he didn’t play for six months, then went to Uzbekistan, and his career went downhill.
— Where can Shakhtar find a good forward now? Maybe you can give some advice?
— I will give advice! There is one young Ukrainian forward who plays abroad and competes in European tournaments. He is currently under pressure from both Ukrainian agents and Western ones. If he had played for Shakhtar yesterday, he would have scored five goals from the chances that the miners created. I won’t name his surname yet.
Let him play, reveal himself, and benefit Ukrainian football. If national team coaches trust him, 100% I guarantee that in some time this will be a unique footballer for our football. I’m not a prophet, but I rarely make mistakes in predictions.
Shakhtar’s management needs to dig into their pockets, look for something there, and make this transfer in winter. In five years, they will sell this footballer for ten times more. If Shakhtar listens to me, then they will remember and thank me for the rest of their lives.
— When will you give the answer to this riddle and reveal the surname of this forward?
— In the fall. There’s a saying: “You count your chickens in the fall” (laughs, — ed. A. P.).
— Who do you name as the best player of Shakhtar in the match against Servette?
— Kevin, who came on as a substitute, impressed me more than anyone. He can beat everyone on one leg. Last year, I named him the best player of the UPL in the season. I am sure that Shakhtar will sell him for big money. Kevin’s transfer to Fulham? Easy! Although he is not tall, he is powerful — an athlete! At the same time, he has speed technique, and he is not afraid to beat. Such players are worth their weight in gold.
— Your prediction for Shakhtar’s second leg?
— Shakhtar will beat Servette 3:1.
— Lastly, the match to discuss — Polissya vs Fiorentina.
— Polissya was very tired. The club was lucky to have a good president, Butkevych, and coach Rotan, but the team lost energy. When energy is lost, the machine loses power, and the horse loses strength, it cannot finish, and it comes off the jumps. They fed it bread, but needed to give oats, and there is no oats because of a poor harvest. It would have been a miracle if Polissya won.
“Fiorentina” did not play very well. The players are still getting used to each other; they have a new coach, Pioli, who was a candidate for the Italy national team. Polissya played decently; they did not look hopeless, but luck turned its back on them. If they had converted their chances and scored, Fiorentina would have shown nervousness in the game.
— Did the absence of Krushynskyi and Mykhailychenko heavily impact Polissya’s game?
— Of course. Mykhailychenko has good experience in European competitions and completes his tasks at a high level. And Krushynskyi is gaining momentum and is one of Polissya’s leaders. He is a versatile player, and he was greatly missed against Fiorentina.
— Who was the best player for Polissya in the match against Fiorentina?
— Hutsuliak played well; he’s holding his mark. In all matches, Babenko tries very hard; he is a very smart footballer, and I’m glad I was lucky to work with him. If he had a bit more size and athleticism, but his technique, logic, and thinking are at a high level.
— Your prediction for Polissya’s second leg?
— Polissya has a serious opponent who is performing very well in European competitions; last year they reached the semifinals of the Conference League, but now Fiorentina is weaker than last season. I think Polissya will lose 2:4. I hope that in Florence the “wolves” will be able to convert their chances and not sit too low in defense. Beskorovaynyn is still far from optimal form, even though he is being counted on.
Andriy Piskun
