Lucescu: We played with dignity and, I think, deservedly won

Kyiv head coach Dynamo Mircea Lucescu commented on qualifying for the playoffs Conference leagues. The Romanian mentor stressed that the upcoming match with Besiktas is no less difficult than the confrontation with Aris.

“It was a very difficult game. I said that we are facing a good opponent, which includes experienced, adult players, they have a lot of matches behind them in the German Bundesliga, in the English Premier League, in the Spanish La Liga, they also have Brazilians. In this regard, their advantage in experience was felt. But we played well and, I think, we deserved to win.”

“I want to thank the fans, although we played on a neutral field, we felt the support of the local public and the Ukrainians who were in the stands. You helped us in today’s match, now we invite everyone to the next game with Turkish Besiktas to help us.”

“For a long time there were no extra times and a penalty shoot-out in my coaching career, perhaps the last time, when I was still working at Shakhtar and playing with Dynamo. Emotions are positive, it’s good that everything is over. My great experience helped, because it’s hard to surprise me with something, because I went through a lot in football.”

“I worked for a good period of time in Besiktas, I was loved there, I achieved success there. To some extent it will be nice to meet again on the football field. I want to see a lot of fans, I know that there will definitely be enough of them from the Turkish side, because many Turks live and work in Bucharest. I hope that after today’s match, each of the fans went home with a particle of positive received from our victory. We are waiting for you next Thursday at our match. I am sure that the audience also feel part of this victory.”

“Our next opponent is very difficult. We could get commands below the level, but already there, as it is. We must prepare for the matches with Besiktas. Tomorrow we will be on the road almost all day. We fly to Chisinau, from there we go by bus to Odessa, on Sunday we play there with Chernomorets, and on Monday we return to Bucharest.”

“Did you see the banners the Greek fans put up during the first match? They were directed against Ukraine. I couldn’t stop our players. I do not support this and I apologize, but you must understand our players. Because they saw the banners of Aris fans against Ukraine, against the military. Of course, I cannot agree with some gestures. Hope this doesn’t happen again in the future. I myself did not expect this. But the reaction of our players was a consequence of how the Aris fans behaved.”

The first match of the confrontation in the third qualifying round of the Conference League between Dynamo and Aris in Greece ended in a minimal victory for the hosts – 1:0. In the return match, the main time of the game ended in favor of the white-blues (2:1), and in the penalty shootout the Kievans put the squeeze on their opponent (6:5).

Dynamo will play Turkish Besiktas in the playoffs of the Conference League qualification. Matches are scheduled for 24 and 31 August.