The glory days when Kiev ruled the roost
in the old USSR, an independent Ukraine
and Europe – winning the Cup-winners
Cup in1974-75 and1985-86 – are long
gone. Shakhtar have usurped them as
the domestic No.1 and in the Champions
League, they have only qualified once for
the knockout stage in the last decade.
Now for an optimistic note. In newly-
appointed coach Mircea Lucescu, they
have a figurehead of infinite top-level
experience and tactical guile a plenty.
Lucescu, 75, has few peers when it
comes to putting together a strategy
to neutralise opposition strong points.
Who is Dynamo’s best young talent?
Striker Vladyslav Supriaha is their golden
boy, rumoured to be a target for several
western European big-hitters. Tall, hard
to knock off the ball, technically gifted,
a calm finisher and altogether much
more than a penalty-box poacher. He can
work the channels, hold the ball up and
drop deep to serve as a playmaker too.
TheBlauw-Zwart(Blue-Blacks), Belgium’s
reigning champions, will go into their
latest European adventure in great spirits.
A recent 3-0 victory over arch-rivals
Anderlecht was the perfect tonic for all at
Club and just to improve the mood at the
Jan Breydel Stadium, key midfielder Hans
Vanaken announced that he would not
be moving to the Premier League. The
current Belgian Player of the Year had
been mulling over an offer from West
Ham. However ultimately chose to stay
put, extending his contract until 2025.
What is Club’s strongest suit?
Their African connection. Their front line
is stuffed with top-quality African stars,
notably Senegalese winger Krepin Diatta,
his compatriot, striker Youssouph Badji
and Nigerian line-leaders Emmanuel
Dennis–whohitabraceina2-2draw
at Real Madrid last season – and David
Okereke. In central defence it’s a similar
story, with the Ivorian duo of Odilon
Kossounou and Simon Deli on patrol.
CLUB BRUGGE
Belgium’s sole representatives on a high
DYNAMO KIEV
Fallen giants in need of resurrection
Belgian Player of
the Year...VanakenUEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE2020-21
The outsiders
COACH
Mircea Lucescu
Much-travelled
Romanian, who in a
career spanning 40
years has worked in
his native land, Italy,
Ukraine, Turkey
and Russia.
KEYMAN
Viktor Tsyhankov
Ukraine’s most
exciting prospect
for many a year.
Employedinthe
“hole” or as an
inverted winger,
he guarantees silky
technique and vision.
YOUNGSTER
TO WATCH
Vitaliy Mykolenko
Polished 21-year-
old left-back, who is
already established
in Ukraine’s national
team. Can also play
equally comfortably
as a centre-back.COACH
Philippe Clement
Clement is regarded
as the best tactician
and team-builder in
the country. He has
been in a state of
grace in the last two
seasons, steering
Genk to the league
title, then repeating
the achievement
with Club Brugge.
KEYMAN
Hans Vanaken
Unusually tall for an
attacking midfielder,
but so, so effective,
piling up goals and
assists in wholesale
quantities.
YOUNGSTER
TO WATCH
Odilon Kossounou
Powerful stopper,
who plays with great
maturity aged only- Joined last year
from Hammarby.
Big prospect...
Tsyhankov