The head coach of Kyiv’s «Dynamo,» Oleksandr Shovkovskyi, commented on the victory over «Shakhtar» (2:1) in the 1/8 finals of the Ukrainian Cup also in the Football Hub broadcast.
Oleksandr Shovkovskyi— It was great to see Guerrero and Brazhko come into the game, bringing a different dynamic in the second half. In your opinion, what changed the course of the match and turned it around so dramatically?
— In the first half, we played too cautiously, with excessive respect for the opponent. During halftime, we tried to change the players' mindset so they would play more aggressively — as we had planned before the game. We had to make a forced substitution because Mykhailenko was injured. It was questionable whether he could continue, so we decided not to take the risk.
We also agreed with Andriy Yarmolenko: if he felt out of strength, he should signal us. Just before the goal was scored, he indicated that he only had about five minutes left, so we were ready to make a change. Guerrero entered the game brilliantly, and overall, everyone who came off the bench gave the team confidence and aggression.
Success smiles on the brave — those who strive, want, and deserve it. Along with success, fortune is always near, but even it must be earned. Today, in the second half, we did it. Congratulations to all the fans on the victory and progressing to the next round of the Ukrainian Cup.
— Why do you think the start of the match was so tough? You yourself said the team played with great respect for the opponent.
— We will definitely analyze this, including individually with the players. But I want to say: we are often accused of playing actively only in the first half and then allegedly lacking physicality. I think today everyone saw that this is not the case. We were ready, but the opponent, on the other hand, faded — whether it was after the goal or due to their own tactics. In the second half, we looked fresher, although we started off cautiously.
— About Volodymyr Brazhko: it was noticeable how charged and lively he was when coming on. What did you say to him before the substitution and after he took the field?
— All the guys were as charged as possible. We were very serious about preparing for this game. Brazhko was one of those who came on and added energy to the team. We maintained constant communication during the game, providing guidance — these are working moments.
— What is the mood in the locker room now? «Dynamo» hasn’t beaten «Shakhtar» since 2021, and now you’ve knocked them out of the Cup.
— The mood is, of course, good. But we have a very tight schedule: in three days, we have another match against «Shakhtar» in the championship, then the Conference League, and then a match in Kyiv before the national team games.
We need to prepare for every game without fixating on the result, analyzing our own actions. Positive moments should be improved, and negative ones corrected. This is a normal work process. It’s also very important to remain emotionally stable: calmly reacting to both victories and failures.
— One last question — about the atmosphere. Today the stadium was quite a spectacle: fire, huge support from both ends of the stands. How much did this help the team?
— The atmosphere was great. We really hope that our stadiums will be full again, leaving almost no empty seats, and supporters will be able to cheer on their teams.
We all miss these emotions. But for this to happen, one thing needs to end — the war, so we can return to normal life. I wish us all victory, peace, and a calm evening.
