Dynamo acting head coach Maciej Kędziorek answered questions from the media after the Ukrainian Cup Round of 16 match against Shakhtar, in which the White-Blues, playing with ten men, suffered a 0:3 away defeat.
– Have you had a chance to review the incident involving Taras Mykhavko’s sending-off? Do you agree with the referee’s decision? And how did the sending-off affect the subsequent course of the match?
– I saw the incident and have my own opinion, but I first want to speak with the player. I do not want to criticise him without establishing all the circumstances. I believe that, first and foremost, I need to speak with him and understand exactly what happened. If you want to hear my answer, I will give it at the next press conference, after speaking with the player.
– You took charge of the team at a difficult moment. In your opinion, is a coach’s authority based on results or on the ability to convince players to trust him under any circumstances?
– That is a difficult question. I think I still need to work on establishing my authority. Of course, results help a great deal, as they make it easier to convince the players. They know me: I have been working at the club for a year and a half, not just a few weeks. We trust each other.
I understand that, after a 0:3 defeat in a derby it is not easy to talk about trust. However, I am convinced that a coach can earn it through his work and personal qualities. Daily work helps convince the players and strengthen their faith in the coach.
– Today’s match effectively consisted of two parts – before and after Taras Mykhavko’s sending-off. How would you assess your team’s performance when the sides had equal numbers? How satisfied were you with the players’ actions before the sending-off?
– I think everyone will agree that we performed quite well during the first 30 minutes. Our idea was clear, as was our understanding of how to respond to Shakhtar’s actions and changes in their play. We were executing our plan well, moving, working hard, and the intensity of our work was at a good level.
After the sending-off, of course, things became much more difficult. It is not easy to play with ten men against Shakhtar’s eleven players when they are currently in good form and playing quality football. We could have tried to play more boldly and proactively, but in that situation, perhaps it would not have worked in our favour. I do not want to explain the defeat solely by the red card – these things happen in football. We need to react better to such situations and work on playing with ten men if we have time to do so.
– You took charge of Dynamo in a very difficult situation. At the beginning of the season, the team were eliminated from European competitions, and now they have also been knocked out of the Ukrainian Cup. Only the league remains, where you can fight for medals. Is the team physically and psychologically ready to compete for the gold medals this season, which is a landmark anniversary year for the club?
– We understand the situation we are in. The club is celebrating its centenary, and everyone has high expectations of Dynamo. When you play for Dynamo, you must always strive to win and lift every trophy possible. Dynamo are a team that must fight for the highest positions and titles. For us, finishing second is already a defeat in the race for first place. So, of course, we will do everything possible to win.
– During your time working with the team, how well have you managed to prepare them for matches? You have two games against Shakhtar in a short period – in the Ukrainian Cup and the league. Which of them is more important to you?
– I do not even have time to complain, so we are focusing on what we can do. I do not want to determine which match is more important and which is less important. For me, the next match is always the most important. Right now, we are thinking about Monday’s game against Kryvbas, and only after that will we focus on Shakhtar. We have enough material to prepare for that encounter, but the next match will be completely different.
– Do you follow how the Polish media assess your work at Dynamo?
– As I have already said, I do not have time for that right now. Four days after my appointment, we played Kudrivka, and three days later, we faced Shakhtar. Believe me, my schedule is very busy. I hope that in December I will have more time to return to this question and see what has been written about me. For now, I am focused on the most important tasks and have to make choices. Of course, I understand how the media work: after a victory over Kudrivka, the reaction may be one thing, while after a match like the one against Shakhtar, it may be completely different.
– The team can now focus solely on the Ukrainian championship and try to climb as high as possible in the league table. How important is winning medals to you personally?
– Of course. As I have already said, when you work at Dynamo, you have to fight for the highest positions. This is our goal, but it is also a great responsibility. We feel this pressure, so we must do everything possible to achieve results. In Poland, some clubs may consider second or third place acceptable. But at Dynamo, things are different: here, the aim is to finish first. I understand that.
– Have you reached an agreement with the club president regarding your future at Dynamo? Is your work expected to continue only until the end of the autumn part of the season? What are your plans?
– At the moment, I have no agreement with the club president regarding my future work. I am focusing on what is happening right now. This job is genuinely exciting, and I enjoy what I do, so I hope it will continue. I can say that my coaching staff and I are doing everything possible to win and play good football. That is exactly what we are focused on at the moment.
