The former Dynamo goalkeeper, now coach Volodymyr Tsytkin, explained what helped Shakhtar win the central match of the 11th round of the Ukrainian Championship against the Kyiv team.
Volodymyr Tsytkin— Let me clarify right away, despite the defeat for Dynamo, nothing is lost yet. After all, the most interesting part is just beginning. A sharper competition for a place on the podium is expected in the current season.
— Still, in your opinion, which of the opponents worked better on correcting mistakes after the recent cup confrontation?
— I think the Miners were more motivated, which helped them play with a single breath, without fluctuations. Secondly, the Miners impressed with more organized actions, and thanks to quality ball recovery in the transitional phase, they complicated ball control for the Kyiv team. It’s their merit that Brajko dropped out in the support zone of the Kyiv team, and that’s why Pikhalyonok couldn’t take control of the game and use their formidable «weapon» — long shots.
Yesterday, the Kyiv team clearly lacked creativity. Finally, metaphorically speaking, the Yamal syndrome affected the events in Lviv — a player from Barcelona who allowed himself to unfoundedly criticize the Madrid club before the derby with Real. For Real, it served as additional motivation to prevail over the Townspeople. Unexpectedly, Kyiv defender Denys Popov found himself in the role of Yamal, who recently spoke negatively about the current Brazilian legionnaires of Donetsk after the cup match. They wanted to prove their professional competence, which they succeeded in doing. However, this cannot be said about Popov.
— The match in Lviv was very energy-consuming. Could this negatively affect the actions of Shakhtar and Dynamo in this week’s Conference League matches?
— I hope not. It is important that our representatives avoid long journeys. Secondly, Shakhtar will gain inspiration from the victory over Dynamo.
As for the Kyiv team, with the return of several key players in shape, the competition for a place in the starting lineup will intensify, which always contributes to progress. Moreover, the next opponent, Bosnian Zrinjski, does not appear unbeatable. It’s time for the Kyiv team to make up for lost opportunities on the international stage.
Andriy Pysarenko
