Famous commentator Ihor Tsyhanyk expressed his thoughts on the crisis in Kyiv’s «Dynamo».
Ihor Tsyhanyk— You know, I can bring up many questions here: why doesn’t Surkis fire Shovkovsky, what’s happening, why does this history continue, is there a solution, how will events unfold in «Dynamo»?
Look, I know the president of «Dynamo» well. And now I will reveal a bit... I don’t know whether it’s a big secret or a small one, but we have repeatedly talked about how he did not intend to fire Lucescu. Remember when Lucescu resigned after the loss to «Shakhtar,» when Zubkov scored? At that moment, Surkis had no intention to fire Mircea Lucescu, and his decision was unexpected for the president.
And if there had been someone on the way from the bench to the press conference who could stop Lucescu, perhaps he would still be the «Dynamo» coach today. Surkis has a long reserve of patience and, frankly speaking, a good heart. He does not make abrupt moves, always gives people a chance, and finds it difficult to part with those he works with.
Then Lucescu simply decided to leave on his own. I have been talking for three months — even more — that dismissal is unlikely. A person must mature to make a decision: either to leave or to try to fix the situation. So if someone is expecting a sharp, demonstrative dismissal of Shovkovsky — it’s unlikely. Yes, at one time Semin was dismissed, but you know why? Because Semin lost to «Shakhtar» and immediately flew to Moscow.
The next day, when the president of «Dynamo» wanted to talk with him, Semin said on the phone: «I will return in two days, then we will talk. Right now, I have holidays, I don’t want to think about it.» And Surkis replied, «I couldn’t sleep all night, I’m worried, and you’re resting? That’s not how it works.» That’s why he was fired then.
So I see no basis for a sharp dismissal of Shovkovsky with the words: «That’s it, Sasha, you’re finished.» I think the president of «Dynamo,» understanding the legendary status of Shovkovsky for the club, is waiting for him to make a certain step — to conduct an analysis and understand whether he can change something in «Dynamo» or not. I will only express my point of view on what is happening.
After the match with «Pafos» in August, I already had grounds to think that the situation would be critical. «Dynamo» was not ready for the Champions League qualifications and serious European competitions. It was very noticeable. It’s difficult to change something during the season. And these failures in the last minutes are due to insecurity and indecision.
And the match against «Kolos» only confirmed it: «Dynamo» did not outplay «Kolos.» «Kolos» beat and pressured «Dynamo» — in desire, in emotions, in attitude. Have you ever seen an opposing coach allow himself to run to a «Dynamo» player like Kostyshyn did to Dubinchak? And for the «Dynamo» bench not to react at all? That can’t happen.
These are «Dynamo» players. And the «Dynamo» coach must also run and defend his own. Then we can sort out whether he’s right or not. Look at how Kostyshyn energized his players — and they used everything they had.
So speaking of any radical changes... unlikely. The team is not ready for the season. Not for the game — for the fight. To gnaw out results in every match. There’s not much difference now between «Dynamo» players and players from other UPL teams.
In every game, you need to give maximum emotion, anger, desire — and add to that the qualification that «Dynamo» players still possess. But it doesn’t become decisive. The team lacks anger. It only appears when the team is already losing 0:2. Then everyone starts to fight for duels, pickups. That’s not how «Dynamo» plays.
Once «Dynamo» was feared by everyone — in Europe and the world — because the team was powerful, fought to the end. It could lose in the game, but it never surrendered. And now it’s the level of «Kolos,» the level of LNZ, the level of other opponents. That can’t be. It just can’t be, said Tsyhanyk.
