- Thirty years ago we faced a tough challenge. Fathers and grandfathers of these kids defended all of us. We live and we must help these children. Football means a lot, but without such meetings there will be nothing. Our doors are open not only for these children.
The war is on in our country and our people keep dying. Politicians must finish this war somehow. I want Dynamo to play against Shakhtar at the Donbas Arena. I want us to live in peaceful civilized country.
- Serhiy Rebrov has been in charge of the team for more than two years. What can you say about his work?
- What really matters is that we demonstrate positive results. Rebrov has won several titles, besides the team looked worthily in the Champions League. We wanted to outplay ManchesterCity, but lacked something. The Citizens have reached the Champions League semifinals. We must move gradually. Two domestic titles in a row are worth much. We have young promising team and I think Serhiy Rebrov is also making headway. I hope he’ll believe in Ukrainian youngsters. They have unique chance to approve themselves as we can’t sign all performers we want and that’s not about money I’m ready to pay.
Today our league is even worse than it was when it just started. I guess many teams will disappear. Still we must preserve what we have and make things better.
I’m satisfied with Rebrov’s work and I’ll keep helping him. He’ll work for Dynamo as long as he’s able to.
- They say you’ve offered Rebrov new contract. Is that true?
- His contract will be valid as long as he’s able to work. He doesn’t want to leave. I’m ready to sign even five-year contract with Rebrov. Still one must understand that he’ll keep working if we demonstrate proper results. Anyway he’s proved he even has a room for mistake. We don’t know which players will leave us this summer. Last year they criticized me a lot, but I was right leaving Yarmolenko in Kyiv. We got out of the Champions League group and won the second domestic title in a row. That’s because Andriy stayed. One shouldn’t think I don’t care about money our club can earn. Today Yarmolenko’s transfer value is higher. We’re waiting for civilized offers. Last winter we got a good one from China, but Yarmolenko didn’t even want to discuss it and I’m thankful to him for that.
- Dynamo have already won the title. Are two forthcoming games a chance for youngsters?
- We’ll use our best lineup as we don’t want to offend Shakhtar or our fans. We must demonstrate champions’ play. I hope Shakhtar will be in fine fettle and they’ll use their best performers too.
As for the game against Metalist, we’ll give young promising players a chance to take the field. We have a lot of them and we must trust them. We all used to criticize Gazzaev for Khacheridi, Harmash and Yarmolenko. Today leading teams of Europe want to sign Yarmolenko. The same can be said about Harmash and Khacheridi.
We have such talented players like Tsyhankov, Besedin, Mykhailychenko and Tymchyk. If they’re ready to perform for the main squad they must prove it.
- Lucescu has stated that if Dynamo don’t defeat Shakhtar they won’t deserve the title. What can you say about these words?
- Every coach wants to unbalance opponents. That’s one of his moves, but Lucescu should think of something new as old tricks don’t work anymore. I don’t see any point in trying to prove something as we’re already the champions.
We conceded seven goals in the league this season with three of them against Shakhtar. In two days after that game we didn’t lose against Chelsea. Two of our leading players didn’t oppose Shakhtar: Rybalka and Khacheridi. The forthcoming match won’t be easy for Donetsk side. As a president of the club I want to see how my performers look opposing such serious team. No one will persuade me we don’t deserve the title.
- Contracts of Shovkovskyi and Husiev will expire this summer. Will they keep featuring for Dynamo?
- I’ll talk to them. Serhiy Rebrov has stated that if Shovkovskyi and Husiev still have motivation our cooperation can continue. I think it’s too soon for them to finish their career.
- Is Kalytvyntsev a future substitution for Yarmolenko?
- I can’t say who’ll replace Yarmolenko as that’s impossible! There are players of the kind. Could one replace Shevchenko? Still maybe Kalytvyntsev will become even better than Yarmolenko. We don’t know that. Yarmolenko is a great Dynamo patriot.
They used to say Yarmolenko would leave Dynamo for free, but I know he would never do that. He knows what I did to take him for Dynamo.
There are people that remember everything and money isn’t their priority. If we have such performers we’ll keep winning trophies.
* photo by V. Rasner
Copyright © 2016 FC Dynamo Kyiv
