Dynamo’s U19 head coach Vadym Milko commented on the victory over Karpaty (1:0) in the 10th round of the National U19 League.
– Today’s game showed that we have character. It wasn’t just the starting eleven that won today, but the entire team. I thanked the substitutes who didn’t come onto the pitch, because I saw how they approached the game and what emotions they experienced. I’m very grateful to them for that. This victory makes us happy, and the boys deserve it.
– The teams started the match on equal terms, but midway through the first half, Yaroslav Buravtsov scored a goal. Did you feel relieved after that goal?
– I only felt relieved after the final whistle. It was a tense game throughout all 90 minutes. I think it would have been a little easier for us if Fedorenko had taken his chance towards the end of the first half. Karpaty are a good team that caused us difficulties.
– At the beginning of the second half, Karpaty launched several promising attacks. Did the opponents catch you off guard with those moves?
– We warned the boys that the second half would be very tense because Karpaty would push forward to get back into the game. The opponents’ set pieces put us under pressure, but we managed to regain control and created several good chances of our own.
– The team created quite a few chances but managed to convert only one. What was missing in the final phase?
– Finishing. We have certain problems in that area. But the boys created chances, and I’m very grateful to them for that. At the same time, we will continue working to improve our finishing.
– It is worth noting that this was the second time this season the team had kept a clean sheet. Are you satisfied with how the defence carried out your instructions?
– That makes us happy. Solid defending starts with the attacking players, and they did a good job today. When everyone gives their all on the football pitch, everything will be fine, and we will continue keeping clean sheets.
– Dynamo have played ten matches in the National U19 League this season – that is a significant stretch of the campaign. How would you assess it?
– We are gradually moving forward. Our progress is there for everyone to see. The boys are developing, and we like the way they approach their work. Of course, over these ten rounds, there have also been some less successful matches, such as the one against Kharkiv. But overall, I am satisfied.
– An interesting moment involving you occurred in the second half – you expertly controlled the ball as it was going out of play. Did you remember your playing career at that moment?
– I immediately remembered how Zinedine Zidane once controlled the ball in a similar way, and I wondered whether I should stop it or not. Fortunately, my legs still remember how to do it.
