SHO THING
Dynamo Kyiv boss says his team was in PERFECT shape against Rangers as he shoots down critics over tactical tweaks
The tie is level at 1-1 and Shovkovskyi wants his players to channel the Hampden noise on Tuesday
OLEKSANDR SHOVKOVSKYI has urged his side to be inspired by a Hampden full house like teams he’s been a part of in the past.
The Dynamo Kyiv boss was Ukraine’s assistant manager for five years before moving into his current role.
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During that time he helped mastermind two wins at the home of Scottish football.
First of all they beat Sweden in the last 16 of Euro 2021 then they knocked out Steve Clarke’s side in the 2022 World Cup play-offs.
Now the former international goalkeeper is dreaming of overseeing another memorable win there when they face Rangers in the second leg of their Champions League third qualifying round.
Shovkovskyi - who also played for Ukraine in a 3-1 Hampden defeat in 2007 - said: "Glasgow is a very special place for me.
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"Apart from the fact I played here myself, I was part of the national team which played Sweden in the previous Euros, we won 2-1 in extra-time so a lot of positive emotions.
"The Ukraine team also played Scotland at Hampden for the play-offs for the World Cup in Qatar and we won decisively that day.
"I can remember the positive emotions from the pitch and the full house at Hampden.
"For the Ukraine players who will know we can’t play in front of full stadia in Ukraine, this energy and these positive emotions from a full Hampden Park will make me smile in a good way.
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"Football is a game for fans first and foremost and Ukraine players are missing that, that’s why they want to enjoy those emotions.
"The fans will come and fill up Hampden and they will play an important role, they will support their team but they will support football.
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"That’s why I want to emphasise we will do our utmost, everything in our power, to give this positive spectacle despite the majority of the fans who will be here not supporting Dynamo Kiev."
Shovkovskyi rested some of his players in the 2-1 weekend league win over Veres Rivne.
But they jetted into Glasgow without injured Ukraine international midfielder Volodymyr Shepelyev as well as fellow midfielder Mykola Mykhaylenko.
Shovkovskyi said: "We played well on the weekend and we are in a good mood and in a good place.
"The main group of players is in good shape but Volodymyr Shepelyev won’t be playing because of injury.
"Mykola Mykhaylenko has a minor injury and we’ve decided not to bring him too, but apart from that, everyone is ready."
Philippe Clement’s men grabbed a first leg lifeline in the away leg in Poland when Cyriel Dessers struck a last ditch equaliser to leave the tie poised at 1-1.
Former West Ham star Andriy Yarmolenko had given Dynamo a first half lead.
There have since been accusations in Ukraine that Shovkovskyi’s decision to hook Mykola Shaparenko midway through the second half of the clash played a part in allowing Gers to get a foothold back in the game.
But Shovkovskyi defended his selections and added: "The team was looking in perfect shape.
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"We definitely understood that in the first game there would be a lot of pressure applied to us in the last part of the game.
"But I don’t agree that after the 70th minute the substitutions we made meant Kyiv stopped attacking, those changes were part of our initial plan."
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