Chobotenko named the advantage of Polissia over Kharkiv

Polissya central defender Serhiy Chobotenko commented on the victory over Kharkiv (3:1) in the second round of the UPL.

– I also believe that "Kharkiv" is one of the main competitors. They have strengthened precisely, a good ambitious team. I think they need more time for these new players to get used to each other.

Today you can see that all the legionnaires were in the attacking five, and from our experience, we know that it is not easy when new legionnaires are immediately included in the squad. I believe that they will be a worthy force in the future.

– So can we say that your trump card was precisely your teamwork, the fact that you know each other better?

– I think so. We, so to speak, have gone through the rough patches and this is already the second season with this coaching staff, everyone knows the requirements thoroughly, so probably we are more cohesive.

– The match was very cautious at first, including from your side. How did you prepare for Kharkiv? You know the opponent's capabilities and players very well, and it felt in the previous season that both you and "Kharkiv" want to play in a similar style – hence the caution.

– We play in our style, and probably the players who worked with Ruslan Petrovych, who moved to "Kharkiv," also try to use the mechanisms that the head coach tells us, trying to more or less copy this style.

But as I said, new players came out. Smolyakov was on the left flank, we knew that he understands this football less, and we tried to act more, perhaps, through his flank.

Why cautious – because during the game "Kharkiv" slightly changed their pressing structure, and we had to adapt to it.

In the first half, they initially, so to speak, retreated, tried to press with wingers, then more, probably, they pushed Ilir [Krasnichi] under the left foot to make it less convenient, then they played 1v1 after conceding a goal, took more risks.

– Your goal in the 61st minute plus Bragar's goal in the 65th – is this the key stretch of the match in your opinion?

– Of course, because in the second half "Kharkiv," so to speak, already went all-in, it was difficult, but these two goals calmed the game and gave more chances for victory.

– From the TV screen, it seemed that the match against "Chornomorets" was more challenging for you in terms of achieving a result. Can these matches be compared at all?

– "Chornomorets" played more in a low block. It was really harder and much hotter – over 40 degrees in the sun, probably, and the dry field – because of this, the ball moved slowly. When a team plays in a low block and the ball moves slowly, plus it's hot – you get tired and it shows.

During the game with "Kharkiv," it was cooler – 30 degrees, and the field allows for combinations so that the ball moves quickly. Therefore, maybe in this regard, it was already easier.

And plus, our game against "Chornomorets" was on the fourth day after the match with "Copenhagen," and now we had a weekly cycle – so in this regard, it was also easier.