Mentor of the youth team of Ukraine – about the match Sturm – Dynamo
Dynamo Kyiv beat Austrian Sturm in the second leg as well, advancing to the playoff round of the UEFA Champions League qualification. The mentor of the youth team of Ukraine Volodymyr Yezersky appreciated the match in Graz and named the main “culprits” of the victory of Dynamo.
— What are your impressions of Dynamo Kyiv’s winning game against Sturm?
– Of course, both the players and the Dynamo coaching staff understood what a difficult meeting awaited them in Graz. Great atmosphere in the stadium, opponents who imposed an aggressive fight with high pressure. The assault was good physically. Dynamo did not feel very comfortable under such pressure. And in positional and transitional there were a lot of defects and losses of the ball. Therefore, the opponent had many chances at the gates of Dynamo. If you remember the whole match, there were a lot of witticisms at the gates of Buschan. The defenders and our keeper had enough work. However, losing, our players showed their will and managed to score twice. Yes, the Ukrainian team endured a lot, it was often very difficult.
– Already in the debut, Dynamo could open an account and feel more comfortable …
– Yes, Nikolay Shaparenko simply had to score in the opening of the meeting. Our midfielder shot above the gate from a lethal position. It was only five minutes into the game. The broadcast showed how the head coach of Kiev experienced this situation. But we also have to thank George Bushchan. He showed his class again. The Dynamo goalkeeper constantly rescued the team.
– The final 1:0 moved the meeting to overtime. What did we see there?
– Here I want to note that Mircea Lucescu guessed right with the substitutions. At the gates of the hosts began to frequently occur moments. I can say that in extra time Dynamo already controlled the course of the match. A very important goal was scored by Konstantin Vivcharenko. Vanat was also active, although he lacks experience in such games. And after the removal of the player Sturm, the people of Kiev had to bring the game to their victory. Which they successfully did.
– After two games with Fenerbahce, and the first match with Sturm, in Austria, Dinamo players finally started to hit the opponent’s goal. Of the 15 shots, 6 were on target. What made this progress possible?
– Let’s return from the role of a coach. Experienced Lucescu knows how to prepare the team in the off-season. Physically, the team is well prepared. But these official games, and victorious ones, give confidence to the players. All this bears fruit. Dynamo players have potential and it shows. It is important that the attack was completed.
— But the match started with a goal from the hosts. In the center of the field, Besedin was cut off and the hosts delivered the ball into the penalty area in one pass, where the most dangerous player of Sturm Hoilunn opened the scoring in this meeting.
— Of course, everyone understood that Sturm’s players would act aggressively. The Austrians put pressure, flew forward. And in this situation, our attacking players had a chance to play correctly in attack. With so much space behind the defenders of Sturm, we often misused our capabilities. I counted more on experienced performers: Artem Besedin and Viktor Tsygankov, in the development of positional attacks. Only at the end of overtime Tsygankov gave an assist to Vivcharenko and scored himself.
– Everyone liked the appearance on the field in the 71st minute of Karavaev and Vivcharenko. Maybe they need to be released in the starting lineup?
– These are mostly attacking players. They love to play forward. Dynamo tried to stretch the enemy’s defense, playing through the flanks. In the moment with Vivcharenko’s goal, everything was done correctly – both the pass and its opening.
– Can Vanat play in place of Besedin in attack, from the first minutes?
– Everything is decided by Mircea Lucescu. These are versatile players. I would also put Besedin first. With the release of Artem, the task was for him to cling to the ball, giving him the opportunity to develop his attacks. Wanat needs space behind defenders.
– It is often heard that Lucescu’s experience helps Dynamo Kyiv. How is it shown?
– I think that today the skill of Dynamo players does not exceed the skill of Fenerbahce players. However, everything is decided by the organization of the team’s game, discipline on the football field. You have to play responsibly and have patience. Mircea Lucescu instilled all this in his team. We see that Dynamo is outplaying its rivals. Mircea Lucescu’s many years of experience allows him to properly prepare for games, starting from the strengths of his opponent. Everything in the complex: Mircea’s experience and the great desire of Dynamo football players.
– You rarely see how in 90 minutes of the game the referee presents the players with four yellow cards, and in overtime – 9 yellow and 1 red. Why did this happen in Graz?
– The game was the most important. There was a lot of struggle, fouls, on both sides, respectively, and cards. There are a lot of illogical yellow cards in this fight. Now Sidorchuk and Garmash will miss the first match against Benfica.
– What is your opinion about Dynamo’s rival in the playoff round of the Champions League – Lisbon Benfica?
– I think that in the current Champions League this is the strongest opponent of all possible for our team. This is the grand of Portuguese football, a real European bison. Everyone knows the power of Benfica. An even more difficult opponent awaits the Kievites. I can note that after the qualifying matches of the Champions League, Dynamo are already in good playing shape. The team has a weekly cycle, there is time to prepare. Last year, Dinamo and Benfica played in the same Champions League group. I am convinced that Lucescu will draw the necessary conclusions. It is important that physically the people of Kiev are in good shape.
– Do Dynamo have chances to pass the current Benfica?
– Of course. It will not be easy, even difficult. What I see: Dynamo are ready to face Benfica.
Source: Sportarena
