Analysis of opponents’ play, abridgements, new game building methods… Of course Raul follows not only Dynamo and Ukrainian football, but also best teams of the world. He has shared some remarks with our official club magazine.
- Recently you gave a lecture about Dynamo game model for Spanish coaches. How did they take it?
- For many Spanish coaches this isn’t something new as they’ve been using same methods for years. Still lectures were interesting for them.
- Is there any ideal football model suitable for any league?
- Ideal is football you like and that gives positive result. I think at the moment ideal teams are Barcelona and Bayern.
- Barcelona have been example of ideal football for several years already…
- They’ve been using these methods for 20 years! Starting point was when Johan Cruyff took charge of the team. The thing is that to demonstrate football Barcelona play one needs performers they have. Josep Guardiola has also done a lot for the team as 6-7 years ago he focused on tactics. Working on tactics players think more.
- Today all Dynamo teams including youngsters have same working model. How important is that?
- What really matters is game model. For example, we don’t have players to switch from defense to attack quickly with a help of long balls. Our performers like to control the ball. Any model is good if you have proper players for it. As for youth teams, for example in Barcelona they start training kids to use main squad model when they are eight.
- You used to say players must form triangles and rhombs on the field. Do leading European teams have the same principle?
- If you want to control the ball you must have certain structure. It can be different. We have triangles and rhombs. If they’re wide that’s a mistake. This kind of formation lets players know where they must be in this or that situation.
- Which league is the best in your opinion?
- I think it’s La Liga. Today Spanish teams hold all European trophies.
- How many matches a day do you watch?
- A lot. I follow what coaches change throughout the game, what tactics they use. I watch every Dynamo match two or three times and then tell players what they must work on.
- How can you characterize Ukrainian football?
- There are really skillful players in Ukraine. They are fast, good at head playing and can use both legs pretty well. What they lack is teamwork skills. It takes several years to make player think in a certain way on the field.
- Is it interesting for you to work in Ukraine?
- It really is. I feel total support of Serhiy Rebrov whom I help with everyday work. I try to introduce here game structure leading clubs of the world have.
* photo by V. Rasner
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