Khatskevich: Dnipro-1 will have to withstand the initial onslaught of AEK, and Shakhtar will have to try to take advantage of Rennes instability

The Europa League and Conference League play-offs will start on Thursday. As part of the first tournament, Shakhtar will host French Rennes in Warsaw. Dnipro-1 in the playoffs of the Conference League will play away in Cyprus against AEK. For Ukrainian teams, the upcoming matches are the first official matches in 2023. Ex-midfielder and ex-coach of Dynamo Kyiv Oleksandr Khatskevich shared his opinion on the start of our clubs in the 2023 football year.

– Dnipro-1 will meet with the Cypriot AEK for the second time in the current European Cup season. And what is more unusual, Dynamo Kiev also played with him in the Europa League group, and very unsuccessfully. What is your opinion about the opponent of our championship leader?

– AEK is still unbeatable for Ukrainian teams. But we know that there are no invincible teams. Mostly experienced players are gathered in the AEK team, and the average age of the team is 30 and a half years – this is a lot. The team has a Spanish coach who cultivates far from Spanish football. AEK football players try to use vertical football, playing a lot through the flanks, you can often see power football played by the leader of the Cypriot championship. In the last round, AEK at home barely escaped defeat from a clear outsider – Akritas. The hosts equalized in the 89th minute of the meeting with the efforts of Trichkovsky. I am sure that the coaching staff of Dnipro-1 saw this fight, but it is not indicative for the current AEK.

– The composition of AEK, to put it mildly, is very international …

Yes, this is the reality of our time. In the leading 4-5 clubs of the Cypriot League, Sita play mainly foreign players. There is no limit in local football at all. Mostly experienced guys who have gone through a good school of the best European championships play in AEK. They love to control the ball. Dnipro-1 players need to be patient and wait for their chance and not forget that this is a two-legged confrontation.

– What can you say about the coach of the Cypriot team – the Spaniard Jose Luis Oltra?

– He coached many teams in his homeland and last year he moved to Cyprus. I believe that this is a good specialist who builds the tactics and game of the team based on the presence of certain players. Playing through the flanks, powerful attackers – this is the current AEK. And he has a good result, both in European competitions and in the local championship.

– Artem Gromov moved to AEK from Dnipro-1 this winter and can play against the Ukrainian club. Agree, you will see this infrequently in European competition.

– Personally, I don’t know Artem, but I know him well as a football player. Gromov is an experienced player. Perhaps AEK football will suit him, because the Cypriots often throw the ball behind the backs of the defenders, into the free zones. Now he needs to learn the language.

– Now let’s talk about the Dnieper-1. Kucher’s wards were able to strengthen without losing any of the leading players. Do you think the leader of the Ukrainian Premier League has become stronger?

– First of all, I will say that in October-November it was clearly visible that the bench at Dnepr-1 was very short. Often it was not possible to release anyone on the field to strengthen the game. Now, I think, this issue is resolved, after the arrival of recruits. But whether the newcomers will strengthen the team, only official matches will show everything here. It is clear that the priority of the Dnipros is the championship of Ukraine. But I also want to prove myself in European competitions, and earn money for the club.

– In the success of Dnipro-1, is it more the merit of head coach Oleksandr Kucher or sports director Yevgeny Krasnikov?

– It’s team work. The coachman is a young specialist, and Krasnikov has experience and football flair on his side. As a footballer, Alexander Kucher had a great experience, but now he is a mentor, and this is different. On Thursday, he needs to choose the right strategy for this confrontation. It is important that Dovbik and Pikhalyonok remained on the team.

– In Larnaca, an extremely interesting duel awaits us …

– Yes, that is right. I now live in Cyprus, and I must tell you that the Dnipro team did the right thing by coming here in advance, a week before the fight. You also need to get used to the weather. If during the day in the sun the thermometer rises to + 17 degrees, then by 22:00, when the game starts, it drops to 4-5 degrees Celsius. And such weather, it seems to me, will play into the hands of the Ukrainian team.

Who is this couple’s favorite?

– Now it’s hard to say, we will have more information after the first fight. The Cypriots are in good shape, their championship is in full swing, so our players need to withstand the assault of the enemy in the opening of the meeting. And yet, AEK is not very spoiled for games on the international arena, so everything is in the hands and feet of the players of Dnipro-1.

– Now let’s move on to the confrontation between Shakhtar and Rennes. What can you say about the French team, which beat Dynamo Kyiv twice in the autumn in the Europa League group.

— The Pitmen’s opponent has a very young team. And youth is inherently unstable. If in the first part of Ligue 1 Rennes lost only two times, then after the resumption of the season, five more defeats were added to Rennes’ liabilities. The team takes the 6th place in the French championship and, apparently, Bruno Genesio’s wards are not in the best condition, both psychological and physical. The crisis of failures, of course, affects the game of the team.

– But with all this, Rennes recently beat PSG in the French championship …

– Yes, I agree with that. But PSG began to lose a lot – failures both in Ligue 1 and in the French Cup. Jovicevich has plenty of information about Rennes, now you need to use it correctly.

— What can you say about Shakhtar, which Mikhail Mudryk and Sergey Kryvtsov left?

– Mudrik is, of course, a loss. Everyone thinks that the Miners have become weaker. But the Pitmen had time at the training camp to prepare for the fact that they would have to play without Mikhail Mudryk. The upcoming games will clear things up.

— Will the return of Yaroslav Rakitskiy to the team strengthen Shakhtar?

– Certainly. Rakitskiy has extensive experience, both in football and in life. It seems that Yaroslav is not prone to injury, but what shape is he in now? I am convinced that he will definitely add composure in defense.

– Some experts say that today Rakitsky is stronger than both Matvienko and Bondar. Do you agree with this opinion?

– In the fall, Yaroslav played in the Turkish championship, and therefore it is difficult to form an accurate opinion now. One thing is clear – the current Shakhtar needs Rakitsky.

– After Mudrik left to take his place, the management of Shakhtar did not acquire anyone. Why are the Miners’ managers doing this?

– It seems to me that Alexander Zubkov will play in this position in midfield. I remember how he played on the left flank of midfield in the Hungarian Ferencváros. Sasha can shift to the center and his blow is biting.

– Judging by the winter sparring, Lassina Traore is also improving his game, who missed a year due to a serious injury, as a result of which he looked rather faded last fall.

– Traore had a very serious injury. Then he just appeared in Shakhtar. The level of Traore’s play is quite high, we remember this from Ajax. He now needs to establish interaction with other partners. In the spring, they will not expect some extravaganza from him, but he must score. Lassina needs help and not to rush him, and he will be able to thank the club with his goals scored.

– All fans always look forward to the first official matches after a long winter break. And now, even more so, during the war …

– I agree, football is one of the few joys for our citizens during the war. Our football players can and should give joy to both ordinary fans and our soldiers. Soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, even on the phone, will be able to watch games or reviews and improve their mood, because thanks to them, we live. And I will ask the football players of our teams not to forget about this when entering the football fields in Warsaw and Larnaca.