Dynamo midfielder Oleksandr Pikhalonok shared his thoughts on the Matchday 14 encounter of the Ukrainian Premier League in which our team suffered a 1:2 defeat to SC Poltava.
- We didn’t convert our chances, there were many of them. Poltava, it seems, created their first moment only in added time at the end of the first half and scored immediately, right before the break. In the second half we tried to change the situation, created chances again, missed many of them again and conceded once more. So it’s the same story - we don’t score and we concede.
- Did you expect Poltava to play defensively and not allow you much attacking freedom?
- Yes, of course. We analyzed Poltava’s game and knew exactly how they would play. It wasn’t a surprise for us but unfortunately we didn’t take our chances today and conceded.
- Why couldn’t you convert your opportunities? There were quite a few chances to turn the match around.
- Honestly I don’t know because this is not the first time. There have been many matches where we simply don’t finish our chances.
- The game was stopped quite often because Poltava’s players needed medical assistance or took too long restarting play. How much did that disrupt the rhythm?
- Of course they slowed the tempo intentionally and it affected the game but that’s part of football - they have the right to do that. From their point of view, maybe, it was the right tactic. But against teams like Poltava you simply cannot concede first. You need to score first to make the match easier.
- Today Bohdan Redushko made his debut for Dynamo’s first team and provided an assist. Vladyslav Zakharchenko also played. How would you evaluate the adaptation of young players to the senior squad?
- It’s not for me to judge their actions on the pitch but we always support the younger guys and give them advices. They did well. Redushko came on and delivered an assist. I wish them all the best and continued success.
- The team has spent the first few days under Ihor Kostiuk. What were those days like?
- We arrived two days ago so Ihor Volodymyrovych didn’t have much time. Over this period we had a lot of theory and tactical work, and also training on the pitch. A lot of new things.
- Dynamo still has four matches to play this calendar year - two in the Premier League and two in the Conference League. Do recent results increase the motivation to turn things around?
- Of course we need to climb out of this hole as soon as possible and lift our heads. It’s clear that in several consecutive matches we’re not just dropping points - we’re losing. We will keep moving forward. If we give up then there’s no point in stepping onto the pitch. So we’ll try to do everything in our power to get out of this crisis.
