Former head coach of 'Kryvbas', Yuriy Vernydub commented on the result of the 1/8 final of the Ukrainian Cup 'Dynamo' — 'Shakhtar' (2:1).
Yuriy Vernydub. Photo: V. Rasner
— What are your impressions of the match?
— Two leaders of our championship. A decent game, but it can be divided into two halves.
In the first half, 'Shakhtar' played very well, while 'Dynamo' was hardly noticeable. In the second half, 'Shakhtar' also came out charged, scored a goal, but then I don’t know what happened, 'Dynamo' very well got into the game and, I believe, won based on their gameplay.
I just can’t understand why 'Shakhtar' started to retreat towards their goal and play defensively. This cost them the game.
— So, can we say that it’s more 'Shakhtar’s fault for sitting back, rather than 'Dynamo' putting pressure on the opponent?
— Then I have a different question—did 'Dynamo' sit back in the first half? They were hardly encountered in the middle block, and there were practically no moments. I don’t recall any 'Dynamo' moments in the first half.
’Shakhtar' had lethal moments—at least three for sure. But Neshcheret played well and they didn’t score the goals they should have, so the first half ended 0:0. In the second half, a decent goal, but there was a pass, a deflection, and the forward put his head in well. After that, I don’t remember 'Shakhtar' having moments.
Everything turned around completely—'Dynamo' began to attack, create opportunities, and achieved the result when Yarmolenko initially scored a very good goal, followed by a second goal from a set-piece.
— Andriy Yarmolenko returned to the starting lineup of 'Dynamo' in the match against 'Kryvbas' and Kyiv team crushed the opponent. Now Yarmolenko is in the starting lineup again and the team knocks 'Shakhtar' out of the Ukrainian Cup. How do you think, how big a role did Andriy’s absence play in the recent unsuccessful matches for 'Dynamo'?
— It seems to me that Yarmolenko is the leader of 'Dynamo'. It really is so. What others say, coaches say that Yarmolenko has already given up—this is the thing. He is a performer, a leader. I think, in how the team played the last two games, Yarmolenko has a big contribution. I read an interview with one of the 'Dynamo' players, who said that during the break, Yarmolenko told the team such things that it couldn’t lose and came out even more charged. Therefore, they looked like that in the second half.
