DYNAMO KIEV
Fallen giants in need of resurrection
The glory days when Kiev ruled the roost in the old USSR, an independent Ukraine and Europe – winning the Cup-winners Cup in 1974-75 and 1985-86 – are long gone. Shakhtar have usurped them as the domestic No1. and in the Champions League, they have only qualified once for the knockout stage in the last decade. Now for an optimistic note. In newlyappointed 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.
Basaksehir sent out a clear message of defiance last season by becoming the first team in a decade to break the Super Lig stranglehold of the nation’s “Big Three” (Besiktas, Fenerbahce and Galatasaray). Maybe they celebrated a little too much on the west bank of the Bosphorus – they have so far started the 2020-21 Super Lig season extremely poorly.
In which areas must they improve?
They have to learn how to function at a higher tempo. In the Super Lig, they can get away with a slower, more calculated style of play. Their principal problem is the advanced age of their squad (over 30). They do lack vitality and fresh legs.
Recently crowned Danish champions for the third time in six years, the Jutland club are chomping at the bit after securing their first Champions League qualification. And no one can say they do not fully deserve it. All the teams they had to beat to arrive here (Bulgaria’s Ludogorets, Young Boys of Berne and Slavia Prague) have participated in the Champions League in recent times and arguably are better resourced. They are reaping the benefits of their data-driven approach to scouting for inexpensive players.
What are Priske’s main priorities?
His No1. aim is to have a “defence of iron”. He especially wants a strong core to his back four and he has that in spades with centre-backs Alexander Scholz and skipper Erik Sviatchenko (ex-Celtic). The pair have received rave reviews in the past few months. In his preferred 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, Priske insists on a compact shape and everyone springing into pressing mode as soon as the ball is lost.
The Austrian champions have lost an inordinate amount of attacking brilliance in the past 12 months – Erling Haaland, Takumi Minamino and Hwang Hee-chan. Such a substantial loss of ability would have blunted the cutting edge of many clubs. Yet under the stewardship of US coach Jesse Marsch, they still continue to go forward with flair, menace and verve.
Who are Salzburg’s newcomers?
The only acquisition of note was defender Oumar Solet, 20, whom they bought for €4.5m from Lyon. The France U20 ace suffered a cruciate ligament injury late last year but, following extensive physical examinations, Salzburg decided to swoop.