Dynamo Kyiv vice-captain Andriy Yarmolenko has shared his thoughts ahead of Thursday’s UEFA Conference League group stage showdown against English side Crystal Palace, a team currently riding high in the Premier League.
Asked whether facing opponents from “the strongest league in the world” would add pressure or motivation, Yarmolenko was clear:
“We know who we’re going to play against. Of course, Crystal Palace play quality and aggressive football. We’ve watched many of their matches and we know their strengths. But first and foremost we need to focus on our own game – we have our own style and objectives. I’m confident that the players who step onto the pitch tomorrow will give everything to achieve a positive result.”
Reflecting on his past experience in England with West Ham, Yarmolenko dismissed comparisons with the Palace of old:
“There’s no point looking back at what Crystal Palace were like back then. Players change, coaches change. This is a completely different team compared to the one I faced during my time in the Premier League.”
For Dynamo, who endured a disappointing European campaign last season, the winger insists the mood is much improved:
“We understand that last season, to put it mildly, wasn’t good in terms of our European performances. This year, of course, we want to put things right and we’ll play to win every single match.”
On whether his experience against Premier League sides will help, Yarmolenko added:
“All the experience I’ve gained throughout my career helps me. Experience is valuable in every aspect of life, not just in football. I hope it helps me perform well tomorrow. But I don’t want to make predictions – I’ll be able to answer that after the game. And besides, I don’t even know if I’ll play – that’s up to the head coach. What I can say is this: every player must focus on his own game, try to show his best qualities, but also think about the team and do everything for the team’s victory.”
Finally, Yarmolenko touched on the wider reality for Ukrainians living through war, underlining the responsibility he and his teammates feel when representing Dynamo:
“Yes, the war is ongoing. It’s very hard – for everyone, not only footballers, but for all our people. Every day the terrorist state kills our children, our women, our friends, our men… It’s very difficult. Through football we want to give at least some positive emotions to our people.”
Thursday’s Dynamo Kyiv vs Crystal Palace Conference League clash in Poland is expected to be an emotionally charged occasion, with the Ukrainian side determined to show resilience on the European stage and their English opponents looking to prove themselves in their debut continental campaign.
0 comments:
Post a Comment