- You’ve been Dynamo gaffer for two years already. Which season was more difficult?
- Of course the second one. We had to preserve motivation after we won the league. We’ve done that which is players’ desert. They’ve won the second title in a row.
Another aim was to perform in the Champions League successfully. We got out of the group which made our winter training camps really special.
- Last time Dynamo won the league three times in a row under the charge of Valeriy Lobanovskyi. Will the next season be even more difficult?
- Sure. It’s always difficult to win the title. That’s always the goal of our team. We’ll keep working and looking for extra motivation.
- I think in the first part of the season Dynamo looked more confident than after winter break. Do you agree?
- In some way I agree. Maybe the problem was that we tumbled out of the Champions League. In Ukrainian league we always have the same problem – all teams play totally defensive football opposing us.
- Many specialists say that Dynamo midfielders run really well, but they lack creativeness. Don’t you think the team needs enforcement?
- We build our play considering what performers we have. Every coach wants to enforce his team.
They say Andriy Yarmolenko is 50% of Dynamo attack. I agree and I don’t think it’s bad that we use our leader’s strengths. If we don’t have Yarmolenko we’ll play different football.
- Dynamo forwards don’t score a lot. Do you think it’s a problem?
- No, I don’t. What really matters is victory. It doesn’t matter who scores. Forwards have different functions they must perform.
- Can any loanees rejoin Dynamo?
- Only players that have motivation to perform for Dynamo can rejoin our team.
- Dynamo conceded only 22 goals in 39 matches this season. Is defense the main strength of your team?
- It’s important to remember that the whole team works for defense, including strikers you criticize.
- It was probably the best season for Yevhen Khacheridi. I’m talking not only about his play, but also about discipline. How did you reach out to him?
- I think he’s finally realized he can do much more for the team than he used to. He’s become more grown up as he’s a father now. He’s more responsible.
- Can you name Dynamo best game of the season?
- Probably it was away game against FC Porto. We also opposed Chelsea FC worthily. There were good UPL matches.
Away game against Manchester City FC also wasn’t bad. We created a lot of chances.
- The game against FC Shakhtar Donetsk started media war. Still it actually started before the match. Is this the first time you face such situation as the head coach?
- I don’t pay attention to that. Before every game against Dynamo Mircea Lucescu says something provocative. We’ve got used to that. Still players’ reaction to that can be different.
KOMANDA periodical
* photo by A. Lukatskyi
