Lucescu: A player returns home to bury his brother who died in the war

Club football in Greece is on the rise, and the team is no exception. Ariswherein Dynamo plays in the qualification for the Conference League. This is what the head coach of the Kyiv club, Mircea Lucescu, said.

On the eve of the return match in the third qualifying round of the tournament, the Romanian specialist at a press conference spoke about the strengths of the opponent, as well as about the problems in his own team.

– Last year, we played in Poland, and we had logistical problems, the transfers were longer until we got to our place of deployment. This year we decided that the road to Chisinau is a little shorter, and from there it is easier to get there, and then you can fly to Bucharest from there. This is about the rational side of the issue.

Regarding the sentimental part, of course I’m glad to be back home, to bring my team to Bucharest. I came here with almost all the teams I coached. I’m happy here and Dynamo, to visit the site of the old stadium, where the new one already stands. If I could play in such an arena…

We really hope that tomorrow the audience will come and support us, we need this support, and it will help us. A week ago, not only the opposing team played against us, but also all the spectators, the Greeks, who do not always follow the rules of “fair play”.

– I’m in the game Rapid a few days ago, as a fan, I wanted the team to win that crucial match, the derby. And I expected that with a good result, more fans Rapid come to our fight. But, unfortunately, the fight was unsuccessful, Quickly lost to a big rival. So, the fans have a grudge, it will take 3-4 days until they move away from this defeat. I think there will be less of them in the stadium tomorrow than I expected. To a greater extent, I hope that the Ukrainians, who now live in Bucharest, will come, I want to invite them to our game.

– You, the press, always want to be ahead of the machine, which asks questions that are convenient for you. But you don’t know a lot, especially, you don’t know what contract I have DynamoWhat are my agreements with the club president?

Yes, of course there is pressure. But do not forget that our team is one of the few that has a large number of its own pets, and almost no foreigners. First, the legionnaires left the club due to the pandemic, which ruined the plans of many, including us. Then – the beginning of a full-scale war and the departure of players and foreigners in Ukraine abroad. Our youth need adaptation, experience gained through games. There are problems, there is pressure, I am ready for that. Preparing for tomorrow’s match.

Also don’t forget that it was shown yesterday that the other Greek team – Panathinaikos – pass Marseilles in the Champions League qualification. AEC also won Dynamo (Zagreb). If you look at the composition, you hardly see the Greeks there. Here you can also add Aris – there are almost no Greeks in this group. And there are players with great international experience from different countries. To play at the right level, we have to be very organized and act with great enthusiasm. I want to see this in my team tomorrow. Then we can be better than the enemy.

Continuing this topic, I want everyone, especially in other countries, to understand what it means to support football in a war. It is very difficult to play with empty stands, without fans, when the players have to find emotions themselves and add them. It’s hard to start the game when there is always a minute’s silence before the starting whistle in memory of the dead. Before leaving for Thessaloniki, which took 23 hours by train, bus, plane, one of our players asked to go home to bury his brother who died in the war. The family was left without a breadwinner, and two children without a father. It is very difficult. And we demand self-giving from him.

Football players deserve special respect for what they are doing in this difficult time. Yes, we understand that many Ukrainians are dying at the front, but the defenders follow the football, our performances, it makes the men work with double energy. But all people in the soul have pain, absence. It is difficult to set up players in such conditions.

– All the boys are ready, except Popov, who has an injury and probably won’t play tomorrow.

– There are no such options. Because there are no more free dates. On Friday morning we train here in Bucharest, then we go to the airport, fly to Chisinau, and from there – by bus to Odessa, where we should arrive late at night.

Remember that the return match against the Greek club will take place today, August 17, at 20:00 Kyiv time.