FC Dynamo Kyiv assistant coach Emil Caras has told about preparations for the new season and plans of the team for the nearest future.
- These days a lot of youngsters are training with the team. They have a chance to work alongside such experienced players as Buialskyi, Besedin, Harmash, Andriyevskyi, Shepelev. They can learn a lot. Even if they don’t spend much time with the first team, they’ll rejoin us in a while. We follow them and hope they’ll be making headway. Mister uses his experience and knowledge to facilitate their progress. The rest is in guys’ hands.
- Will foreigners join the team at the training camp in Switzerland?
- It’s hard to say. As far as I know, Tomasz Kedziora and Benjamin Verbic want to rejoin Dynamo. But we’ll see what happens.
- What do you think of your Champions League qualification opponent – Fenerbahce – who’ve got new head coach?
- Mircea Lucescu is the one who analyzes our opponents. Fenerbahce new gaffer Jorge Jesus knows us really well as he was in charge of Benfica we faced last season. Our lineup practically hasn’t changed since then.
New coach always gives a team extra motivation. After not really good season, Fenerbahce are enforcing their squad with new players. Anyway, we’re getting ready and we believe in ourselves. It all depends upon whether our internationals will be ready.
- They say Dynamo can play friendlies against Swiss clubs, against Lyon and Everton. Are there any other potential opponents?
- Basically teams you’ve mentioned are also potential opponents so far. Our international department is working on that. What matters is that we’ll have not only friendlies, but also charity matches to raise funds for Ukraine.
- Ukraine national team has had intense period including 2022 World Cup qualifiers and the Nations League matches. What did the team lack in your opinion and how are Dynamo internationals doing?
- Of course internationals were upset after defeat against Wales. As for me, we had to win, but were unlucky. I can only say that due to the initiative of Mircea Lucescu internationals managed to go abroad and get ready. Shakhtar did the same while Dovbyk was training with Dynamo.
- When will internationals return and what are Dynamo plans for the nearest future?
- Ukraine U21 players will come to Bucharest on June 22. The following day they’ll start training. After two days in Bucharest, we’ll go to Switzerland. Internationals will join us there on June 28-29.
- Is the arrival of Mircea Lucescu in Kyiv a gesture of support to Ukraine and Ukrainians?
- Misters has proved everything with his professionalism. He came back to do his job. We really missed our training ground and Ukraine.
- What kind of the UPL format do you consider to be optimal?
- What I want is to return to Ukraine and play here, but it’s hard to make any predictions. We all want to play in Ukraine. Guys are happy to be at home, with their families.
