Former Kyiv «Dynamo» forward Oleg Salenko shared his thoughts about his former team’s recent failures. Recall, the «blue-and-whites» lost three consecutive matches for the first time in the history of the Ukrainian championship. In the last of these matches, the Kyiv team was defeated away by Kovalivka’s «Kolos» (1−2) last Saturday, after losing to Donetsk’s «Shakhtar» (1−3) and Cherkasy’s LNZ.
Oleg Salenko— Oleg, setting aside the quality of play in our championship, do you like the intrigue still present at the top of the league table? Meaning, there are just six points separating teams from second to eighth place.
— The Ukrainian championship is a mid-level tournament where there are no serious teams like in the better times. But to create something, you need money. And that’s not easy to do in such difficult times when the country is at war. There is practically no young generation. Even in the Dynamo academy, there’s a shortage of talented players. Therefore, the tournament is somehow leveling out.
— Naturally, the most unexpected result was probably recorded in Kovalivka. Or, considering Dynamo’s recent failures, can’t we say Kolos’s victory is sensational?
— So much has already been said about Dynamo that there’s nothing to add. (Smiles). Whether the club’s management will take steps to rectify the situation, I find it difficult to say. Although changes have been overdue for a long time.
— You have already expressed that Dynamo needs a new head coach. Has your position changed?
— No. But I see that for now, nobody wants to change anything. Maybe it will happen in winter so that the new coach has time to work before the official matches.
— Speaking directly about the game, in what aspects did Dynamo lose to Kolos?
— In team play. The hosts defended wisely and made excellent use of their opportunities to score. With Vanat’s departure, Dynamo lacks a quality forward. Due to injuries, Shaparenko and Yarmolenko were absent, and Dynamo’s attacking play was nonexistent. I won’t even mention the defense, which resembled an open door.
— Dynamo is already in seventh place. How do you comment on that?
— I’m ashamed to look at the league table. Whether the current Dynamo players are ashamed, that’s for them to say. If they lack character, they don’t care. Players themselves should talk amongst themselves, figure out the problems without the coach.
There were times under Valeriy Lobanovskyi when results weren’t good. The coach would tell the players to talk amongst themselves and leave the locker room. And we resolved these issues. Now, it seems, players can’t show character, play «through can’t.»
— Many experts claim Kyivans will no longer be able to retain the championship title. Do you agree?
— I think yes. Shakhtar has invested in players. I believe the «miners» are gradually finding their game. The match against «Obolon» (6—0) confirms this. Arda Turan’s team’s loss of points will be occasional. If suddenly Dynamo pushes forward, which I doubt, regaining ten points is almost unrealistic. You can lose the next six months, but perform a reload. Problems can’t be solved just like that.
— Can any other teams compete with Shakhtar?
— No. In terms of financial investments and player selection, the «miners» are currently out of competition. The main battle, I think, will unfold for the second, third place and the European cup zone.
— LN has stubbornly held on to second place. Can the Cherkasy team become a group like Alexandria last season?
— Quite possibly. The team has a good group of players, an ambitious coach, and it is worth noting the stable financial situation, which plays a significant role in the team’s current success. However, their main goal, as far as I know, is to advance to European competitions. I think this will be one of the main contenders for that place.
— Who else, in your opinion, will be the main contenders for the prize places?
— We’ve already mentioned Shakhtar, and the fight will continue between LN, Poletyevo, I think Zorya could join in this company if they don’t give away points to opponents. And I wouldn’t dismiss Dynamo either. If the team pulls itself together even for a mediocre performance, it might try its luck in this competition. It’s somehow still unusual to talk about a giant of domestic football this way.
Sergiy Demyanchuk
