Viktor Skrypnyk, head coach of Luhansk’s “Zorya,” on the cup match against “Phoenix-Mariupol”:
-We always want to win. Plus, we’re thinking about the future. There are players who don’t get much playing time in the league. We need to give them opportunities to get on the field, too.
Everything went according to plan, including the substitutions.
It’s also nice that we’re moving on to the next round. We’ll wait to see who our next opponent is.
I hope none of the guys suffered any serious injuries.
-Did you give the team a bit of a talking-to at halftime?
-It’s all about mindset. You have to get mentally prepared for every match. A cup match is a one-off game where anything can happen. Opponents, especially those from the first and second leagues, approach matches against UPL teams differently. Perhaps they prepare as if it were the most important game of the season.
I told the team that we’re approaching the game professionally. It’s hardest for the favorites. They have to prove in every game that they’re the stronger team.
-Up next is a league match against “Bukovyna.”
-They beat “Dynamo” in the last round. Now “Zorya” is coming to town. We’re expecting a tough match, but it all depends on us.
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