Kyiv Dynamo midfielder Vladyslav Kabaiev thoroughly analyzed today’s match against Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih (4:0) in the 10th round of the Ukrainian championship.
Vladyslav Kabaiev. Photo — Yu. Yuriev— What are your emotions after the victorious game with Kryvbas?
— Victory is the main thing. Of course, when you win, and the quality of the game is there, it’s great. Today there was the necessary quality, perhaps not always, but it was noticeable. We beat a tough team for us, such matches are always challenging. Today, the 3:0 score after the first half shows that our reaction to the previous five games of the championship, where we lost a lot of points, was right, as well as to the unsuccessful game against Samsunspor in Turkey.
— Kryvbas usually plays high defense and often makes mistakes. Did the coaching staff focus on this during preparation for the match?
— We study each opponent for an hour, sometimes over two days. Kryvbas has both weaknesses and strengths, in particular, they score a lot on counterattacks. I wouldn’t say that we were making passes behind the lines and everything worked out. There was more combinational play, and we worked on standards, which worked today. Near the opponent’s penalty area, we had more successful actions. But there are still moments where we need to work better — both in defense and attack because again there were moments we didn’t finalize. But we scored four and didn’t concede, which is already good.
— Today you played on the unfamiliar right flank, how much more difficult was it to operate there?
— I won’t lie — it was unusual. But I provided an assist, and besides, there were moments when I shot with my left foot. Karavaev jokes that when I play on the right, I have goal chances, and I can both assist and score. And when I’m on the left, maybe I participate more in building the game. The roles were a bit different, but the main thing is that I played today after an injury, after a not very successful period. The team won, so that’s a big plus for me and the collective.
— What injury did you have?
— I had two injuries — a thigh adductor strain and an injury to the front of the thigh. And when I went to Turkey, I got food poisoning, so I missed the game with Samsunspor. But today I talked to the coach before the game, he trusted me, and I played.
— Tell us about the third goal and the spectacular combination with Yarmolenko, it seems it was an important goal for him too. Did you manage to orient well during the match?
— Yes, we’re all footballers. With a player like Yarmolenko, you can play with your eyes closed. You know that if you pass it, he’ll return it right to your feet. It was very pleasant to assist such a player as he. I’m very glad he also returned to us after illness, played, although not in his position, but very qualitatively. It’s nice to be on the field with him.
— A new winger, Shola Ogunlana, has joined the team, Voloshyn started playing well this season, there’s Yarmolenko, we all understand what a figure he is. Is there much competition for the winger’s position now? Do you feel it?
— Yes, it’s noticeable. But you understand, we play in Dynamo. Two years ago, there was no competition, there was only Yarmolenko, Voloshyn, and me, others were ill. Generally, one person per position. Of course, it’s fun to play all matches, but I understand that in such a club as Dynamo, there will always be competition. If you don’t show your level, someone else will come and do so. Many guys want to join here. You can ask guys from Kryvbas. They have a lot of work ahead, I wish they would feel what it’s like to play in such a club. It’s normal that there’s competition, the guys are young.
We’re a bit older, a bit more experienced. Young guys like Voloshyn, Shola are coming in. I have very good relationships with them and Andriy Yarmolenko, so I am glad when they do well. I see how Nazar Voloshyn embraces me and celebrates for me. So it’s healthy competition that will push both me and him forward.
— Today, the team showed confidence and ease that was missing in recent matches. What changed today, why did Dynamo look so relaxed?
— Pikhaliyonok and I talked that, like before — going out to play football, winning on class, as life showed, doesn’t work anymore. You need to go out and play men’s football. At first, not just not making mistakes, but winning micro-duels in defense, in the center of the field. We always have many moments. So I think that was very important today. How is confidence gained? Winning in the first moment, in the second, somewhere broke through, outplayed, scored, and Kryvbas, on the contrary, showed nervousness.
It’s very difficult to maintain stability. The more stable you play, the higher your level as a player. But when you’ve played one game well, two poorly, then well again, such fluctuations aren’t very good. Now we need to feel this stability. We understand that there’s still a lot of work ahead. I don’t want to say much now, but I want to go out to the next games, for example, with Shakhtar, and prove everything on the football field.
— Do you think the bad spell is already behind?
— We don’t know what will happen tomorrow. Everyone would like Dynamo to always play as it did today. A lot of hard work goes into that. We’ve worked, but something wasn’t working out. Today it did. We’ll try to make it work in the next games — with Shakhtar, and further in the European competitions. I want to promise this, but we’ll see how it goes. We’ll do everything we can.
— Were the last minutes calmer with a score of 3:0?
— Yes, of course, calmer. Somewhere in the subconscious was the thought of previous matches, plus fatigue, plus the road. I don’t want to focus on this, but it was felt. When the score is 3:0 or 4:0, of course, you feel a bit calmer.
— Was there a thought that with a score of 3:0, you, Buyalskyi, Yarmolenko, other key players, could be substituted to prepare for important matches with Shakhtar?
— I haven’t played the last games, missed a month. It was hard for me because I wasn’t in the best physical shape. I think Yarmolenko also wants to play every match. We see from his emotions that he isn’t very happy when he’s substituted. He loves football. Maybe today there was especially no one to replace the wingers... For me personally, for example, it was very good to play all 90 minutes. It was necessary to play a bit more carefully so as not to get a red card, because I already had a warning. But I’m glad that nothing bothers me at the moment.
— How important is Yarmolenko’s role for Dynamo?
— His contract ends in the summer, I don’t know if he’ll be a sporting director or not, and generally, who he will be, but he’s a very good, kind person who helps a lot, both on and off the field. It’s interesting to ask him about some stories during his football career. His role is very large. Today he gave a speech before the match, when we beat Shakhtar, he also spoke. I don’t know how it works. (Smiles). He knows how to find the words that switch something inside the team.
— A tough and responsible week lies ahead, two matches with Shakhtar, how much does this victory boost morale? What do you expect from these matches? How hard will it be to play against Shakhtar, considering logistics and the match density?
— Let’s drop the logistics, I don’t want to talk about it because Shakhtar also travels. Of course, when you beat Kryvbas, a team that was in first place, of course, it gives you confidence. But Shakhtar also won and approaches our meetings in the same form as we do. The older you get, the more you look forward to such matches, like with Shakhtar, Kryvbas, Polissya, because Dynamo vs. Shakhtar is a poster, unlike matches with teams that are lower in the standings. And when they are, it’s great, we play in Kyiv, there will be a lot of people. This, of course, is a great responsibility for the team, players, coaching staff. I repeat, we will do everything we can to achieve a positive result.
— In European competition, as last season, an unsuccessful series begins again. It seems that Dynamo in the championship and on the Euro stage is slightly different. What do you think is the reason?
— I agree with you. To be honest, I don’t even know. Sometimes we discuss this with the guys when we ride in the coupe, drink tea. The psychological state, of course, is not the best, especially after five draws and a lot of criticism, deservedly so. But honestly, I don’t know what’s wrong.
You train the same, work equally hard, but we see how we play. Zero shots on target, the quality isn’t there. I think little has changed since last season. Yes, Vanat and Bushchan left, but these changes aren’t global. I think it’s more about psychology. Also, more freedom is needed. We know how to outplay, take the ball, but when you go out on the field and concede to Samsunspor in the second minute... I watched on TV because I was ill, and it stirred me inside. I understand how the guys and coaching staff feel.
We still have matches ahead. We need to rectify this situation. We watch and read what they say about us, we acknowledge it’s deserved. We aren’t fools, we understand everything, look at this situation realistically. But it is what it is. We want not with words, but with action, our game to respond to all critics, because it touches us. Everything is in our feet and our hands, we want people to first and foremost say about Dynamo that this is the champion of Ukraine, playing for its country on the Euro stage.
