Dynamo Kyiv midfielder Vladyslav Kabaiev shared his impressions after the team’s emphatic 4:0 home win over Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih in the Ukrainian Premier League.
– What are your emotions after this win over Kryvbas?
– The victory is the most important thing. Of course, when you win and the quality of play is there – that’s great. Today we showed the level we needed – not throughout the whole game but it was noticeable. We beat a tough opponent, these matches are never easy. The 3:0 score at halftime showed that our reaction to the previous five league games, where we lost a lot of points, and to the poor performance against Samsunspor in Turkey was the right one.
– Kryvbas usually defends high and makes mistakes. Did the coaching staff emphasize that before the match?
– We study every opponent for an hour or two during preparation. Kryvbas have both weaknesses and strengths – they’re especially dangerous on counterattacks. I wouldn’t say we simply played long balls behind their defense – there was more combination play and we worked a lot on set pieces which paid off today. Near their penalty area we had more success in our actions. But there are still things to improve – in both defense and attack – because we again had chances that we didn’t finish properly. Still scoring four and conceding none is already good.
– You played on the right wing today which isn’t your usual position. How difficult was that?
– I won’t lie – it felt unusual. But I managed to provide an assist and had some good shooting chances with my left. Karavaiev jokes that when I play on the right I can both create and score; when I’m on the left I focus more on building the play. The responsibilities were a bit different but the main thing is that I played again after injury and after a not-so-good spell for me personally. The team won so that’s a big plus for both me and the team.
– What kind of injury did you have?
– I had two injuries: a groin muscle strain and a quadriceps issue. Then, when we went to Turkey, I got food poisoning which made me miss the Samsunspor match. But before today’s game I spoke with the coach – he trusted me and I played.
– Tell us about the third goal and that beautiful combination with Yarmolenko – it looked like an important goal for him too. Was it instinctive play?
– Yes, we’re all footballers. With a player like Yarmolenko you can play with your eyes closed – you know that if you pass to him he’ll return it perfectly to your feet. It was a pleasure to assist such a player. I’m very happy he’s back with us after his illness. He played very well today, even in an unfamiliar position. It’s just great to share the pitch with him.
– Dynamo has a new winger - Shola Ogundana, Voloshyn is also in great form, and of course, there’s Yarmolenko. The competition for winger positions is fierce. Do you feel that?
– Yes, definitely. But that’s Dynamo – competition is normal. Two seasons ago there was hardly any – just Yarmolenko, Voloshyn and me, while others were injured. It’s fun to play every game but in a club like Dynamo you have to accept competition. If you don’t perform, someone else will take your place. Many players dream of joining this club – ask guys from Kryvbas, they’ll tell you. So it’s normal.
We’re a bit older and more experienced now, and younger guys like Voloshyn and Shola are coming through. I have great relations with them and with Yarmolenko too. I’m happy when they play well. You can see how Voloshyn hugs me and celebrates my success – that’s healthy competition that pushes all of us forward.
– Today the team looked confident and relaxed – something that was missing in recent matches. What changed?
– Pikhalonok and I were talking – the days of just going out and “playing some football” to win on class alone are gone. Now you have to play real physical football – win your duels in defense and midfield. The chances will always come. That made a big difference today.
Confidence comes when you win the first duel, then the next, take a shot, score – and the opponent, like Kryvbas, starts to get nervous. Maintaining stability is very hard. The more consistent you are, the higher your level as a player. When you play one good game, then two bad, then one good again – that’s not great. We need to find stability now. We know there’s still a lot of work ahead. I don’t want to talk too much – better to prove it on the pitch, especially in the upcoming matches against Shakhtar.
– Do you think the bad streak is behind you now?
– We don’t know what will happen tomorrow. We all want Dynamo to always play like today. Behind this are hard weeks of work. Sometimes things just didn’t go our way. Today they did. We’ll keep working to make it happen again – against Shakhtar and in Europe. I want to promise that but let’s see. We’ll do everything in our power.
– At 3:0 did the final minutes feel calmer?
– Yes, of course. Subconsciously, we still remembered previous matches plus fatigue and travel took their toll. I don’t want to make excuses but it was felt. Still, with a 3:0 or 4:0 scoreline, you can relax a bit more.
– Did you think the coach might substitute you, Buialskiy or Yarmolenko early to give rest for you before games against Shakhtar?
– I hadn’t played recently – missed a month – so it was tough physically. Yarmolenko, I think, also wants to play every game. You can see from his emotions he’s not too happy when he’s subbed off – he just loves football. Maybe there weren’t many winger options today but for me personally it was great to play all 90 minutes. I just had to be careful not to get a red card since I already had a yellow. I’m happy that nothing is bothering me now.
– How important is Yarmolenko’s presence for Dynamo?
– His contract expires in the summer. I don’t know if he’ll become sporting director or something else but he’s a great person who helps everyone – on and off the pitch. It’s fascinating to hear his stories from his career. His influence is huge. He gave a speech before today’s match and also before our last win over Shakhtar. I don’t know how it works (smiles), but he always finds the right words that switch something inside the team.
– A tough week ahead – two matches against Shakhtar. How much confidence does this win give you? What do you expect from those games?
– Let’s skip the logistics talk – Shakhtar also travels. When you beat Kryvbas, who were top of the table, of course it boosts your confidence. But Shakhtar also won and comes into the matches in similar form. The older you get, the more you look forward to these big matches – against Shakhtar, Kryvbas, Polissya. Dynamo – Shakhtar is always the headline fixture, unlike games with lower-table teams. It’s great that we’ll play in Kyiv with lots of fans. It’s a big responsibility for everyone – players and coaches alike. We’ll do everything we can to get a positive result.
– In European competitions, as last season, Dynamo is struggling. It feels like the team plays differently in the league and in Europe. Why is that?
– I agree with you. Honestly I don’t even know why. Sometimes we talk about it among ourselves on trips – drinking tea in the train. Psychologically we’re not in the best shape, especially after five draws and a lot of criticism – which, to be fair, is deserved. But we don’t understand what’s going wrong.
We train the same way, give our all but we see the difference – zero shots on target, lack of quality. From last season not much has changed. Yes, Vanat and Bushchan left, but that’s not huge. I think it’s mostly psychological. We need to play more freely. We can control the ball and beat opponents but when you concede in the second minute like against Samsunspor… I watched that match on TV while sick and I was shaking inside because I knew how the guys and the staff must have felt.
We still have matches ahead and we must fix this. We read and hear what’s said about us – and we admit, it’s deserved. We’re not fools, we see things clearly. It hurts and we want to respond not with words but with our football. Everything’s in our hands – and feet. We want people to say that Dynamo is, above all, the champion of Ukraine, playing for its country in Europe.
