FC Dynamo Kyiv player Oleksandr Karavayev has shared his impressions of the return match against FK Partizan (3:0) and expectations of the upcoming tie against Rangers FC.
- What kind of emotions do you experience?
- Really positive ones. After 6:2 we wanted to prove the first leg wasn’t accidental and we can beat them away as well. As a classic said: “We could beat them anywhere – on the Moon, in the sand, underwater” (laughing). I’m kidding, but we were really motivated. Everyone knows what happened before these matches. When missiles hit children’s hospital in Kyiv, Partizan played you know where. I don’t even want to name that country. It was a strong motivation for us and we couldn’t play differently.
- Not only motivation, but the physical shape of the team seems to be great as well. As the head coach said, “when one lateral assists and another scores”…
- It was about a great dedication. We know that when one lateral attacks, another one should stay back as it’s risky. But it was late in the game, we were very motivated and scored in such a way.
- You’ve been one of the leading Dynamo goalscorers in the Champions League qualification in the last few years. Two years ago you scored twice, now you did it again…
- Now my dream is to score in the group stage. One should set a goal and move towards it. Now we have another opponent and we’ll be getting ready. But first we need to recondition which is what we’re going to do.
- Have you already checked any Rangers games?
- Not yet. Basically I’m familiar with this team. That’s a tough opponent. They play athletic football. That will be a totally different game, but I think we have a really good lineup, promising youngsters and experienced player. That’s why we have decent chances.
- You celebrated you goal with a nice symbolic gesture. Who was that for?
- For my family of course. A funny thing happened when we played the first match in Lublin. I usually call my wife before the game, tell her whether I would play or not, how I feel, she asks about my health, always worries about me. But then somehow I didn’t tell her that I would probably play, and she just found out that I was in the lineup half an hour before the game. She was shocked as she was running errands at that moment. But she stopped the car and started watching the broadcast (laughing). Honestly, I wouldn’t do that – I would come home and watch the second half. I actually feel this support of the family. I will always say that when your relatives, acquaintances, friends, family support you, it’s a great incomparable motivation.
