Ex-forward of the Ukrainian national team – about the second leg of the playoff round of the Conference League Dnipro-1 – AEK
For Dnipro-1, the European Cup season has ended. Their offender, for the second time this season, was a club from Cyprus – AEK (Larnaca). At first, the Cypriots did not let Dnepr-1 into the group stage of the Europa League, and now they have won, on aggregate, in the play-offs for reaching the 1/8 finals of the Conference League. According to Oleksandr Kosyrin, a well-known striker of the Ukrainian national team in the past, the reason for this result is Dovbik’s injury and the problems of “winter” football.
— Oleksandr, the day before the second leg we saw information that the leader of Dnipro-1 Artem Dovbik would miss the most important match against AEK. Is this information disturbing?
– Of course, Dovbik is the strongest player in the Dnipro-1 team. He is in his prime and scores a lot. And in general, the game of the team, in attack, is tailored for him. It is clear that the coaching staff headed by Oleksandr Kucher tried to play something, but how to do it in one day? Probably, if Dovbik had been on the football field, he would have been able to score a goal, or maybe two.
– Only the absence of Artem Dovbik did not allow Dnipro-1 to excel in the match against AEK?
– I believe that a long winter break does not play into the hands of our teams. At the end of November, Ukrainian football clubs complete the first part of the season. Then vacation and long fees. I think that in recent years only Shakhtar and Dynamo Kyiv have become accustomed to official matches in February. For Dnepr-1, this is all a new experience. And so, the players of Dnipro-1 gathered for Christmas and everyone where they go, a lot of flights. Look, they were preparing in Turkey, then they were in Cyprus for a week and in Slovakia for a week. I don’t know if they saw their families during this time. It’s hard enough.
– Did someone have an advantage in the second match?
– In general, these were approximately equal teams. The only thing is that the Ukrainian team did not manage to score a goal. Although, remember, in the first half, Pikhalyonok had a good moment, and in the second half, Peglow fired powerfully from afar – the bar saved the guests. And the most real moment to score a goal, I think, was Gutsulyak, but after his header, the ball flew near the post.
– How do you like the newcomers of Dnepr-1? Did you manage to discern the qualities of Heiner, Peglow and Mingo?
“It is too early to draw any conclusions. They are just getting used to the new team, Dnepr-1’s style of play. I would like them to help their new team, otherwise the clip of football players at Dnepr-1 is very small.
– Now teams from Cyprus are becoming a stumbling block for domestic clubs. It wasn’t like that in your time…
— Indeed, 20 years ago we did not even know the names of clubs from Malta, Luxembourg and Cyprus. We understood that by entering the field against teams from these countries, we would beat them. But football is leveling off. You can’t just beat anyone anymore. Moreover, the situation in our country, when we have a war, does not contribute to the development of football.
– In early March, the second part of the Ukrainian Premier League starts. In the first matches, Dnipro-1 will play with Oleksandriya and Dynamo. If there is no Dovbik, will it greatly affect the results of the team that is fighting for the championship?
– Of course, this is a problem for the team and a very serious one. Plus, we don’t know what quality the football fields will be. The weather spring hasn’t started yet. I believe that there will be a lot of power football, a lot of wrestling and martial arts. Dovbik is needed by Dnepr-1.
Source: Sportarena
I’m Scott Moore, a professional writer and journalist based in the US. I’ve been writing for various publications for over 8 years now, and have been working as an author at athletistic for the past five years. My work has been featured by some of the leading sports websites and magazines across Europe.
