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Buriak: We have to come on, play and win
The results of the draw didn't give rise to any particular emotions for Leonid Buriak. The match against FC Thun will be his 5th match in his career as Dynamo Kyiv head coach.
- It's hard to say now what this little known club from Thun is like,- says Leonid Buriak. - We have already started gatthering information, as we all are aware Thun scored and missed a lot of goals during this season.
It's not so notable club in Switzerland as Bazel, Grasshoopers or Zurich are, though our opponent has made last two clubs to be out of work in Swiss championship. I consider FC Thun to be serious team which can give us any surprise. So much the more interesting will be the game and we are getting ready with full responsibility.
- Are you expected a weaker team?
- A strong or a weak opponent is a relative concept in up-to-date football. Malmö and Hajduk were the only exception amongst all not seeded clubs. All the others are at the same level. So we don't have to blame the draw, we have to come on, play and win.
- How will you gather information about the rival?
- I count on Olexander Zavarov's help who knows Swiss football not by hearsay. With the means of our contacts we will get video records of some of Thun's games of last season. And I will be present at the home match against Bazel on the 23th of July. Some of my assistants will be present at the match against Arau.
- Did you have time to discuss the result of the draw with the President?
- Yes, we agreed in opinion that the rival is quite serious and we have to make much efforts to pass this stage. Though UEFA Champions League is a serious competition for us, we won't speed up training for the second qualification round. We will play three games in UPL and one SuperCup game - the players will have minimal practice to start playing in European competition.
Maxym Shatskikh was calm after the draw, he said: "We have to play with any rival, we have to find right approach to any opponent. Though I didn't play with any Swiss club before, we have to pass Thun."
Sevydov heads Metalurh Donetsk again
Metalurh's direction confirmed Olexandr Sevydov's appointment as a head coach, Sport-Arena informs. He will replace Russian specialist Vitaly Shevchenko. It will be Sevydov's return to closely related club where he played and trained.
On the 23th of February, 2003 Sevydov replaced Semen Altman who left the club one month before. The youngest coach in UPL won bronze medals. But in the beginning of next championship Sevydov handed over his post to Dutch Villem Fresh. It happened on the 28th of July, 2003. Sevydov worked as a coach in Metalurh Donetsk next seven months and headed Stal from Dniprodzherzhynsk in March 2004. He brought Stal out from the Second League to the First League. As a result Stal took the 9h place in last season. In all probability, the great deed he made with provincial club became the clincher for direction while making a choice in favour of 36-years-old home-bred specialist.
It is significant, while last two and a half years Metalurh Donetsk exchanged six head coaches. Dutch Ton Kaanen headed the club while spring-half of UPL after Altman, Sevydov and Fresh, Serbian Slavolyub Muslin headed Metalurh since June 2004 till the 7th of March, 2005 and Vitaly Shevchenko was the head coach since the 10th of March till the end of the 14th UPL.
Viacheslav Shevchuk: Nobody declines Shakhtar's offer
Dnipro rides the storm. Just the day before yesterday the head coach Evhen Kucherevsky assured everybody that he will try to save present team for future competition. And yesterday it became known that after Oleh Venhlynsky another Dnipro player - Viacheslav Shevchuk - will leave the club most probably.
Competent sources inform (even confirm) that Shakhtar Donetsk are interested in experienced defender who joined Dnipro this winter. He came from Shinnik Yaroslavl. And it's well known that the President of Shakhtar makes suggestive offers!
- Slava, but who "deceived" nevertheless: you or Evhen Kucherevsky? A few days ago, as you said after all, nobody would leave. Where did this information come from? How real is it?
- To tell you the truth, I don't want to discuss it right now. We can do that in a few days. Though, on the other hand, why should I keep it back. There is no smoke without a fire. Yes, I must admit, Shakhtar made an offer, we are carrying on negotiations now. I don't know if we decide a point and when exactly, but I don't want to stay in Dnipro.
- Why is that? Just half a year ago after you came to Dnipo from Shinnik you confirmed that you found your team, didn't you?
- In the beginning everything was perfect. But as time went by I understood it's not my place. I even don't know why. I played and the team was nice - everybody supported each other. But I couldn't feel my oats and that's that. It's reasonable I couldn't enjoy playing.
- Maybe you couldn't reach an understanding with Evhen Kucherevsky?
- No, we had wonderful relationship! Evhen Kucherevsky is a great coach, I respect him very much. During this half a year he had much to offer me.
- Have you already informed him about your decision to leave Dnipro? What kind of last talk did you have with Kucherevsky?
- Quite friendly. I said: "I want to play in more serious team to have the ability to work for improving myself". He answered: "Humanly, I understand you. A wish of a player is the most important thing for me. If a player wants to leave, let him leave, why should we hold him back by force." It's good principle, i'm not a slave (smiling). In a word, it seams to me we understood each other. Concerning the team - yes, there was some misunderstanding. But believe me, the players were not the reason to leave the club. The main thing I want is to perfect myself.
- If you leave Dnipro for all that, what words will you choose to describe last year?
- The most kind words. Despite tough competition we reached UEFA zone. Maybe, I did my bit. At least, I tried to make my effort. It was pleasant to think we carried out our duty in the end of the season.
- You've already played for Shakhtar some years ago. How did your react to the offer to play in this club again?
- I accepted it very positivly. I want to play for Shakhtar. After all, they give high results and will play in UEFA Champions League. I wish every club had such an infrastructure. As to Dnipro, they have problems. Though I don't want to talk about it now.
- Do you see yourself in Shakhtar's main squad?
- I see only one thing: I will perfect myself playing in Shakhtar. I like the way they play. I think I fit their tactics and will be able to play in Lucescu's team.
- But your contract with Dnipro is in force for the next two and a half years. The direction of Shakhtar knew about it for sure and made an offer nevertheless.
- I don't go into the root of the matter. But I think every problem can be resolved. My agent is engaged in it right now.
- In this case, how good are the chances of your transfer?
- I don't know. Everything depends on negotiations between directions of clubs, especially, on Dnipro's point.
- That means you haven't discuss terms (and conditions) of your private contract yet?
- Not yet.
- Slava, what if negotiations fail? You cannot play in Dnipro, what will you do? Do you have any other propositions?
- There were propositions from Russian clubs. But, to tell you the truth, I don't want to return to Russian Premier League.
- Slava, all players are on vacation, they are luxuriating in the sun. When I called Ruslan Rotan he was resting in Turkey while they were carrying on negotiations about his transfer. You are here between Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk.
- I also was on vacation. But they are deciding my destiny right now that's why I broke it and came to Ukraine to be present at negotiations. It's very important for me. I came to tell them I didn't want to stay in Dnipropetrovsk and I didn't want to offend anybody. I don't know how it will be, but I just cannot play for Dnipro anymore. All my thoughts are about Donetsk now.