Coaches’ Comments After Dramatic 1/8 Final Match of the Ukrainian Cup
Following an exciting encounter in the Round of 16 of the Ukrainian Cup, head coaches of Kyiv’s Dynamo, Oleksandr Shovkovskiy, and Donetsk’s Shakhtar, Arda Turan, publicly shared their impressions and analyses of the game.
Both professionals acknowledged their teams’ efforts and explained the reasons behind the match’s outcome.
Shovkovskiy thanked his players for their second-half performance, pointing out that during the first half, the team showed excessive respect towards Shakhtar, which hindered their chances.
He emphasized that the second half was a different story, where more courage and intelligent play earned them their success.
He also noted that Dynamo is yet to fulfill its main objectives in the tournament, but the fact that a major contender like Shakhtar has been eliminated is encouraging.
Turan, meanwhile, congratulated Dynamo on their victory and reaching the quarterfinals, stating that his team performed better tactically in the first half and followed the coach’s instructions.
However, he admitted that the team’s performance declined in the second half, leading to their defeat.
Turan highlighted that despite the disappointment, losing is part of football, and teams must play hard and smart to succeed.
Dynamo’s win, a 2:1 result, secured their advancement, while Shakhtar’s tournament journey concluded.
Fans can watch the full match video and highlights on official platforms.