Former Dynamo Kyiv defender Oleh Kuznetsov shared his thoughts on the intrigue in the Ukrainian championship.
A group of teams, previously considered average, has reached the level of the giants. At the same time, the flagships of our football have lost their positions, falling to the level of these average teams. This is where the intrigue has come in. However, unfortunately, the quality of our championship has not improved.
Kryvbas is achieving success because of well-selected players. The club’s colors are defended by both solid foreign players and qualified Ukrainians. This is also the merit of coach Patrick van Leeuwen, who has been working in Ukraine for a long time and knows our football environment. However, it’s unlikely this club will contend for a place in the top three at the end of the championship. I think Kryvbas will compete for a maximum of fourth place.
The season favorites are Shakhtar, Dynamo, Polissya, and Metalist-1925. No matter how you slice it, these are our wealthiest clubs. For instance, Kharkiv-based Metalist made million-dollar acquisitions even when they were playing in the first league. After advancing to the UPL, the club made quality enhancements. Polissya is also a wealthy club with strong players and a strong coach at its disposal. I believe Polissya and Metalist-1925 are capable of denying Shakhtar and Dynamo the championship, Kuznetsov is confident.