Dynamo head coach Marcel Licka answered journalists' questions after the Cup match against Zenit (0:2).
— Zenit were better in all aspects of the game. We slept through the first half. They got out from under our pressure very easily, and we made simple mistakes when moving forward. Our team lacked creativity. Zenit were better and deserved this victory.
— Did Dynamo have a lack of preparation or, on the contrary, over-preparation? What happened in the first half?
— When you play at such a stadium with 45,000 fans, you should be even more motivated and perform with more desire. It's hard to say what happened. I am upset with today's match. The opponent played the first half calmly, scored two goals, and controlled the game. In the second half, we improved our pressure, but in the last 20-30 meters to the goal, we played poorly – the team lacked ideas, and we didn't try to beat Zenit players one on one.
— Didn't it seem to you that Dynamo missed leaders on the pitch?
— We also missed Jorge Carrascal and his style of play. In the midfield, our players tried hard, but couldn't keep up with the opponents. Diego Laxalt did his best for all 90 minutes, pressed, and struggled in front of the penalty area. That's how not one, not two persons, but all outfield players should work. Tyukavin ran a lot, tried hard, but I needed him in the penalty box, where he would be closer to dangerous chances. The ball rarely reached him, and he skillfully retained it – that's also important.
— Is today's match a one-off story for Dynamo, or it could turn into a trend?
— Of course, I don't want it to become a trend. At the training session, I will express quite harshly to the players what I didn't like and how we should play. It's clear that weak games can happen. There are no teams that play every single match of the season at the highest level. The plus is that we will still have a chance in the Cup.
We also didn't play very well against Akhmat, but the team spirit and attitude to the game were high, and the football god was on our side. But today luck could not come to us because we didn't deserve it. We need to quickly switch gears after this match. Some of the players will go to their national teams, the rest will get the weekend off, and from Monday, everyone who remains in the squad will work on the aspects that were bad today.
