Zorya’s head coach Viktor Skrypnyk commented on the draw with Dynamo (1:1) in the 9th round of the Ukrainian championship on the broadcast network.
— Before the broadcast, you were in high spirits. Is the result of today’s match acceptable for you?
— When you win and then concede, you could say we couldn’t hold on and missed the win. But when you play against a team like Dynamo in Kyiv and get a draw — it’s a positive for us. Thanks to the guys: we were cohesive, compact, but not in the trenches. We also looked for our chances — in the first half, we had a very good moment. There’s progress, and we keep working.
— It was visible that Zorya actively pushed forward from the start of the match. Why couldn’t you capitalize on the chances?
— It’s football. We’d like every chance to end with a goal, but that happens rarely. It is what it is. A draw with Dynamo is a very good result. The guys aren’t upset, but they’re already discussing the chances they could have converted.
— After conceding a goal, the team didn’t close down; on the contrary, they tried to attack. Did you make any adjustments?
— When you’re losing, there’s no point in just standing back and defending. But today, we didn’t only defend — we also sought happiness in attack and ultimately found it.
— Were you aware of Dynamo’s drawing streak? Did it somehow affect the team’s mood?
— Yes, we saw that they had four consecutive draws. But, in my opinion, teams like Shakhtar or Dynamo often calm down after scoring. And then, if you don’t close down, you have a chance to equalize. We managed to do that — and we’re satisfied.
— During the international break, you had some time for work. What did you focus on?
— We adjusted the structure and players' positions a bit, so they weren’t just playing 'on rails'. The guys got used to their new roles, and I think it paid off. Of course, a two-week break without matches is tough — just training, and it’s not the same. But the team came together, and today we showed a good game.
— Butkovskyi is having a good season. How would you assess his form?
— It’s better to ask him that (laughs). But he’s a true captain — on the field and in the locker room. A leader who always wants to win. I’m pleased with his game, although, of course, I’d like the execution to be even better. But we have what we have — and we’ll keep working on it.