What
do you think about the issue of star-team vs team of stars? Many say that DK-75 or DK-86 were teams of stars and now we don't have personalities. I disagree. Lobanovsky took the team in Dec 1996, no stars, no names. And in September 1997 the world learned about Shevchenko, then Rebrov, then Maxymov, and Luzhny. Isn't this an evidence that the star-team started producing stars? Today we have Kaladze. Many big clubs want to get him... When we played a friendly against Milan last February, Galliani asked me about Nesmachny: "Who is that, new Maldini, in Kyiv?"... Younster Vitali Lysytsky just debuted this season... But we still have players in the club, whose potential has not been shown fully. Show me any team of only stars? Usually it's 2-3 stars with all the rest being "working horses"...
The team of 1996 had its potential. Only miracle prevented us from reaching the Champions League final in 1999. That team was capable of brinning the top European trophey to Kyiv. Only misfortunate circumstances obstructed us... Now this team is like a squeezed out lemon. In the last 4 years players had only 12-14 day vacations annually. This year they will rest for 25 days or more.
Why
didn't you buy Eduard Tsykhmeistruk, who is now targeted by Spartak Moscow?
I don't want to offend this player, but if Dynamo didn't buy him, then there were reasons. The head-coach has his views on team-building and we don't intervene into this process, as we are not coaching the team.
Whom
do you plan to invite this winter? Any changes to the squad will be made public as soon as a decision is taken... We should plan that next season we will see a new team... Our selectioners can't be found in Kyiv these days. The team goes on vacations and we will discuss in the club our transfer policy for the next year. Some players will be sold, some acquired. We made too many mistakes lately... Yesterday during the game in Donetsk, Vaschuk retaliates to the rough plaay of the opponent, with a trick from wrestling, then Khatskevich made a hand-ball and kicked the ball out of the field after the whistle. He should have been given a red card instead of the yellow. Afetr the game I entered the locker-rooms with words: "I don't care about the result -- a victory, a draw or a loss. But if anyone forgot the name of the team he plays for, or is bored of playing in Dynamo, he should leave it soon."
Many
complain that there are too maany foreigners in Dynamo... I don't understand these divisions on "ours", "theirs". "Ours" is the one who gives pleasure to millions of fans. His citizenship is the secondary issue... Today we are in search for one-two strong forwards. But players must identify with our style, have corresponding biological and bioenergetic abilities and conditions... Our scouts are working full time on this.
Don't
you think that out of all foreigners, only Kaladze really became a master
since 1997? Not really. I think Bodnar became a starter too and is paying back our hopes... Shatskikh... Remember his goals against Aalborg? Remember that he was a top scorer in Ukraine in 1999/2000... I will say, that there isn't much of young talent among our foreigners. Kormiltsev was sold to Torpedo. Yashkin is expected to add in his performance. Serebrennikov, who was named by Kipiani as one of the most talented in his age-group underwent a very difficult surgery and really didn't have a chance to show his potential. Let us be patient and wait...
Why
didn't Dynamo get Smertin, Bakharev or Khokhlov? First of all, Bakharev doesn't play abroad, he is in Donetsk. Secodnly, I admit that Dynamo was interested in Smertin and Khokhlov. The agent of the latter told us that he wants to play only in the West (he is now in Real Sociedad). We were one week late to get Smertin together with Yashkin and Kormiltsev. The last two are still below the expected level. So there are no assurances that Smertin wwwould have become a leader in Kyiv. We are searching for new players, but they also need some time to adjust to Dynamo.
Could
you comment on the case of transfer of Suker? There were many rumors about it. But I never said that he will be in our team. So I consider this issue closed. We don't buy pensioners.
There
were rumours that Dynamo was interested in Romanian midfielder Stoica a
year ago, but now he plays for Anderlecht... No. Stoica was never our target. Moreover, his father has a very close relations with Anderlecht... You know, rumours are often spread to raise players' price. Dynamo is a trademark, and people often take advantage of this, "leaking" info about Kyiv interest. For example, few days ago France Press called us asking to clarify info about some player...
Demetradze
is a clear individualist. How could Lobanovsky, who doesn't like such individualists
like Ronaldo, have chosen him? Strange question. I don't think that Lobanovsky would deny Ronaldo. But I think Lobanovsky want his principles to prevail -- a palyer should be universal. Demetradze has technical skills, he blended in nicely, but still has problems of understanding his tasks. But Lobanovsky is sure that the change will happen soon.
What
are your plans as the FFU president? We want to create an Academy for Referees, we want to create an institution of Youth National Teams headed by Anatoli Kroschenko. We want to create a Children League, which will be financed starting from the season 2001/2003 -- France has it and we should have it... Pavlo Yakovenko started an experiment with a National Team of 14 years old...
Will
the Ukrainian National Team ever play outside Kyiv? I was in Donetsk few days ago and talked with the governor Victor Yanukovych, who assured me that Donetsk can host a World Cup qualifying game. I will do my best to popularize our National Team all over Ukraine, as the German National Team does it in Germany.
Who
is your top three Ukrainian players of the year? Shevchenko, Vorobei... But the third position has too amny candidates. I think Luzhny. As for top three goalkeepers: Shovkovsky, Virt, Levytsky.