FC Dynamo Kyiv head coach Oleksandr Shovkovskyi answered media questions before the Champions League 3rd qualifying round second leg against Rangers FC.
- What’s your squad situation? Are all players who performed against Veres ready for the game?
- Yes, we’ve played a domestic league and won it 2:1, so now we’re getting ready for Rangers in a good mood. Most players are. The one who won’t help us is Volodymyr Shepelev, who’s injured. The same goes to Mykola Mykhailenko. We decided there’s no point going through two flights with an injured ankle. All the rest are ready to play.
- Dynamo hardly had any scoring chances after the 70th minute in the first leg. Was that because Shaparenko and Pikhalionok were subbed off?
- Throughout the game we realized our opponent would be applying pressing. We tried to find chances for counterattacks. I don’t agree that the team didn’t play after the 70th minute.
- You’ve already played at this stadium, against Scotland. What do you remember about that game?
- Yes, I have really special memories of Glasgow as we played here as I worked for Ukraine national team. Back then we beat Sweden in extra time – 2:1 – and went through to the Euro-2020 quarterfinal. Then we played a 2022 World Cup qualifier against Scotland here and won as well. I remember this stadium, fans’ support. It feels nice when the stands are full even if they’re rooting for your opponent. Football exists for fans. We miss top level games at crowded stadiums. These are emotions players take the field for.
- Do you believe that the crowd that gathers at the stadium tomorrow will give your players some kind of impetus?
- I believe that people who come to the stadium tomorrow love their club and football in general. We want to do the best we can to demonstrate spectacular performance and good result.
- Obviously, you found out a lot about Rangers in the previous game. Are there any players you need to have a special focus on?
- It’s a team that takes the field. Every player aims to show his best performance, use his best qualities. That’s the way it’s always been. I never separate a particular player from a team. To succeed, every player must subordinate his personal goals to ideas of the team. We’re getting ready for a tough, but surely interesting game.
- Have you talked to Oleh Kuznetsov or Oleksii Mykhailychenko about the upcoming game? Perhaps they have some advice from their own experience of playing for Rangers?
- Sure, they told about their recent games (smiling). I’m kidding. Frankly speaking, I didn’t have such an opportunity.
