Luhansk Zorya’s defender Roman Vantukh shared his expectations from today’s Ukrainian Championship match of the 9th round against Kyiv’s Dynamo, which is one of his former teams.
Roman Vantukh. Photo — FC Zorya— Roman, is the match against the people of Kyiv particularly significant to you, considering your past?
— Indeed, I was with Dynamo for more than seven years, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to prove anything to anyone. This is not my first similar game. It’s just another round of the championship. Only against an authoritative opponent.
— Does your team’s coaching staff emphasize the fact that Kyiv hasn’t won in four consecutive league matches?
— No. We understand whom Zorya will face. Firstly, they are the reigning champions. Secondly, one should not forget that Dynamo hasn’t lost in the championship, if I’m not mistaken, for 40 matches. It’s an impressive record. I think it actually motivates the people of Kyiv. Our team is preparing for a very challenging confrontation.
— Obviously, the coaches pointed out the opponent’s weaknesses. What strengths does your opponent have now?
— Dynamo knows how to play intensely; they always try to control the ball and have individually strong players in their lineup.
— If Viktor Skrypnyk trusts you with a place in the starting lineup, you’ll likely have to face players like Andriy Yarmolenko or Nazar Voloshyn on the flank. Have you studied these players' capabilities?
— At the very least, I understand what to expect from each of them.
— Is it easier to defend against Yarmolenko or Voloshyn?
— They are players of different styles. Yarmolenko prefers to have the ball, showcasing his skill. You can’t play tightly against Andriy because he’s a master of beating or providing a great pass in a confined space. And Voloshyn is more about speed and space. You need to be careful because Nazar opens up well behind the opponents' backs. Only the game will show how it all plays out.
— You often play left defense, but sometimes you are moved to the midfield flank. Where are you more comfortable?
— In the last match, playing in midfield, I felt fine and scored a goal. But generally, I’m a defender, so I feel more confident there. But again, for the sake of the team, I’m ready to play wherever the coach places me.
— How can Zorya surprise Dynamo?
— Interesting question. We are underdogs, so it would be wrong to say that we can outclass Dynamo. Zorya will try to achieve through cohesive team play and a huge desire for a positive result.
— Your team sometimes shows good football, but the results are inconsistent. Why?
— It’s simple. There is no stable result because there is no consistency in the game. But we hope that we are moving towards pleasing our fans more often.
— Considering all nuances, will a draw against the champion be a positive outcome for Zorya?
— If you look at the standings, we will play against one of the league leaders, so not losing can be, by definition, considered a good result. But we want to win and will do everything possible for it.
— What is Zorya aiming for this season?
— Our team often plays in European cups, so the ideal outcome would be to earn that right by the end of this season.
Serhii Demianchuk
