Dnipro coach: “Panathinaikos is a very good team, every player is a threat”

The fact that Panathinaikos is a very good team and each of its players can threaten was pointed out by the coach of Dnipro at the press conference ahead of the match on Tuesday (25/7). Alexander Kutcher.

The Ukrainian coach also spoke about the choice of Kozice as a home base, while he emphasized how his only goal is to win, in order to continue dreaming of qualifying for the Champions League groups.

What he said in detail at the press conference:

How much will the experience of the European Cup, gained by the team last season, help you in the upcoming matches?

“For us, this is the second season in the European Cups, but this is a different tournament. Qualifying for the Champions League is the strongest club competition in the world. For us it is a new competition, for which we are preparing. We did everything we planned. I think we are approaching these matches in good shape.”

Why was Kozice chosen as the headquarters?

“We already have the experience of performances abroad. Now it is convenient for us in terms of location because we are based in Uzorod and the distance here is only 90 kilometers. We played here last season, we liked everything, we were well received here, so why not?”

And what about home now and how do you play all the away games?

“Yes, there is a war going on in our country at the moment, so we cannot host opponents at home in the European Cups. Now we are in Uzorod, where we train and host opponents in the league, but there is a chance to return to play in Dnipro-Arena. Yes, we don’t have fans away from home and this situation is quite unpleasant, because football players also need fans in the stands, because they help and add excitement. And the European games are a big motivation for that, as the fans help us here and the kids enjoy playing in front of full stands.”

What are your aspirations for this season?

“We understand that we have a very difficult match ahead of us, because a very good team will play against us. Judging from last year, we had very good support in Kosice. We hope that tomorrow we will feel it, both from Ukrainians and Slovaks. We really need this support, because it helps us. As for the next season, of course there is a desire to play in the strongest competition, we dream of it, but we understand that we have a very difficult match ahead of us, because a very good team will play against us. We will do our best to achieve a positive result.”

Do you feel an added responsibility in the fact that in case of success you can already secure the team’s appearance in the Europa League groups?

“We must not think that we can secure a place in the Europa League in the autumn. We are currently playing in the Champions League qualifiers. Let’s play here and dream of the Champions League. We are maximalists. We need a win in every match. So now we should not think that we can secure a place in the Europa League in the autumn. We are currently playing in the Champions League qualifiers. Let’s play here and dream of the Champions League.”

The draw has been made for the next round (Marseille). When you know a potential opponent, doesn’t it interfere with the preparation for the match?

“No, we are focused on the match against Panathinaikos and now all our thoughts are only about tomorrow’s game. This match will have two halves, the first in Kosice and the second in Athens. The fact that there is an opponent afterwards is not so important now, but we have to solve the issue with Panathinaikos. Then we’ll look at the rest. And planning something in advance, when you haven’t done all the work yet, I don’t see the point in that.”

How did you try to compensate for the lack of action in preparation?

“Of course, the level of opponents we had in the training camp is lower, although I don’t want to offend anyone, but that’s the reality, because the championship of Ukraine and the Champions League are different tournaments. We took advantage of everything we could and set the boys up, although of course we were not opposed by opponents from the top footballing countries. But the boys were trained so that they were fully focused in these matches and gave maximum performance to carry all that into the official matches.”

What will be decisive in tomorrow’s match?

“The victory of course (laughs). We had no experience of such matches before: me as a coach and the players. The main thing is to be calm, confident in ourselves and in our actions. The footballers have to do what we have agreed, to bring all that to the pitch and of course have the desire to win, so that the fans can see that the footballers want to win. This desire will give him strength.”

What is the biggest threat to Panathinaikos and what should you watch out for?

“This team is very well balanced, experienced and has a good attacking line where you can count everyone and every player is a goal threat and any one of them can make a decision. Very good team and we have to be constantly careful and responsible towards the opponent”.