The Dynamo head coach answered media questions after the home UPL match against Olexandriya.
– How difficult is it to play the same opponent twice in a row?
- I wouldn’t say it’s particularly difficult to face the same team twice in a row. The only thing I can say is that it’s tough to start a game from the dressing room already losing 0:1.
– What’s going on with the team’s defense? Two goals conceded against Obolon in the last round and today two more…
- Of course the first goal wasn’t necessary at all. I honestly don’t understand the players’ actions there. As for the second goal… I even asked Taras what he wanted to do but he didn’t answer. The problem is decision-making on the pitch. We discuss it, we tell the players, we work on it during trainings. But no matter what tactics we choose, once you step onto the field you need talent, bravery and the ability to make the right decisions. Unfortunately that was missing. Sadly there were childish mistakes that led to goals conceded. And this happened despite us having excellent chances to score ourselves. I really don’t understand how Guerrero missed the ball and failed to score in the first half - for me that’s the same kind of mistake as in defense. The chance Blănuță had, and other opportunities, should have been finished better.
– In the first half Dynamo could not only have equalized but even gone ahead. Against Obolon too, at 2:1, you had chances to “close the game.” What is missing in finishing?
- We work on finishing almost every training session. The last 15-20 minutes are dedicated to it - we practice attacking combinations and shot conversion. I think in this case what lets us down is individual skill.
Of course this result is unpleasant for us. And, of course, the responsibility is mine because you cannot start a match like this and you cannot finish a match like this. We will work individually with the players and explain to them that they cannot rise above their own level of expectations unless they properly implement what they train.
I told the guys that winning the championship is difficult - but keeping it is much harder. Gaining skills, combinations, interactions and confidence takes a long time. Losing them is very easy. And then rebuilding it all again takes a lot of time. But the players understand the problem we’re facing right now. We’ll keep working and try to fix it.
