Famous Ukrainian coach Myron Markevych shared his thoughts on the defeat of Kyiv’s Dynamo by English Crystal Palace (0:2) in the match of the first round of the main stage of the Conference League.
— Let’s be honest, today Crystal Palace is one of the best teams in the EPL, and its results in the domestic arena confirm this. A very tough team.
As for the claim that Dynamo could have conceded even more, I wouldn’t say the English team really created many real goal-scoring opportunities. The problem is that the Dynamo players made it too easy to score. In the moment leading to the first goal… well, guys, you have to fight, push, and not allow an opponent to easily finish off a header practically without resistance!
And the second goal… I would advise Brazhko to learn to defend better; he is too easily outplayed. Remember, in the game against Karpaty, something similar happened: he also allowed his opponent to outplay him on the flank and cross into the penalty area. Both moments ended in goals.
— Did Mykhavko’s injury affect the game and its outcome?
— If we’re talking about the first goal, then definitely yes. He wasn’t replaced on time, they played a man down and conceded.
— Yarmolenko is the only one in Kyiv with experience playing in the EPL, yet he couldn’t make a difference in the match against Crystal Palace. Is it appropriate to start such an experienced player?
— Yarmolenko should indeed be preserved and brought on in the second half when his skills and experience might be needed. For about 30 minutes, he can still play at a good level and give the team a boost. But that’s a matter for the Dynamo coaches, not mine.
— Three consecutive draws in the UPL, a defeat to Crystal Palace in the Conference League. Has Shovkovskyi lost control over his players? Fans are increasingly demanding his dismissal.
— Dismissing Shovkovskyi is the easiest thing to do. What would that accomplish? Dynamo needs good football players. The ones they have now are not up to par. That is the main problem, and changing coaches is the simplest solution.
— Regarding Dynamo’s newcomers. What do you think of the playing level of Vladislav Blenutsa, Shola Ogunyanda, and Aliu Tiara?
— I honestly see nothing in that Romanian Blenutsa. I don’t know, maybe he will break through over time.
The central defender [Tiara] has a good physique, but only over time will we understand what his true level is. I would say the same about the Nigerian [Ogunyanda]. It’s too early to give him an assessment.
We’ll see how the matches against Shakhtar in the Cup and UPL, as well as against Fiorentina in the European cups go; then we will evaluate what these newcomers are worth. Only then can we discuss it more substantively.
Victor Glukhenky