Defender of Kyiv’s «Dynamo» Denys Popov summed up yesterday’s match with Kryvyi Rih’s «Kryvbas» (4:0) in the 10th round of the Ukrainian Championship.
Denys Popov— Congratulations on your first home clean win in the UPL this season! What are your emotions?
— It feels like a celebration for a defender. We tried to rehabilitate ourselves. I think our team played very well today; I’m proud of the team, everyone did great.
— Does it feel like the best game of the season so far?
— At this moment, probably yes. We converted our chances, ensured a winning score, and kept a clean sheet in defense. Today, there’s a reason to be a little happy and relax. We have very important matches ahead of us.
Everyone understands the tasks set before «Dynamo» and where we should be. I don’t look at the league table, but we currently have an unsuccessful streak, so this victory is like a breath of fresh air for us to get on the winning path and stay on it till the end.
— After five draws, you can finally exhale...
— There’s never time to exhale because the schedule is crazy.
— Ahead of you are two matches with «Shakhtar,» just as you played twice in a row with «Oleksandriya.» Is there a difference between league and cup matches?
— It’s «Shakhtar,» and we are «Dynamo.» Everyone understands what kind of match this is. We need to prepare for our best game so that each of us is charged and plays our best match, then there will be results.
— How important is the goal you scored, and how do you rate your game?
— I confirmed that I’m in my place, where I should be. Of course, a goal is a bonus for a defender. The main thing is that we kept a clean sheet since we conceded quite a few goals this season. But today the team worked as a single mechanism. That’s how it should be in the future.
— «Dynamo» increased the quota of fans for home matches. How will this be a bonus for the team?
— In these times, people need to go to such events to distract themselves a bit from everyday problems. Emotions vary, not always positive, but this is football. We are happy to see everyone in the stands.
