Vladimir Tsitkin: Dynamo utilized only 30% of their potential in UPL
Former Ukraine youth national team coach Vladimir Tsitkin assessed the league's quality and the performance of top clubs this season.
Vladimir Tsitkin, former Dynamo Kyiv goalkeeper and former coach of Ukraine's various youth national teams, has shared his critical assessment of the current state of Ukrainian football. According to him, the overall quality of the league was poor, with intrigue limited mostly to the battle for European qualification spots among the lower-ranked teams.
Tsitkin argues that reducing the number of teams in the top flight is not a panacea. Instead, he believes the focus should be on implementing stricter requirements regarding club budgets and infrastructure to prevent the inclusion of struggling teams that lack the necessary foundation for development.
Dynamo performed in the UPL at 30% of their actual capacity. Vladimir Tsitkin
The expert highlighted disappointing campaigns for several clubs, specifically mentioning Oleksandriya, Karpaty, and Rukh. He was particularly critical of Dynamo Kyiv, suggesting the team reached only 30% of its potential. Among the few bright spots, Tsitkin praised LNZ, describing them as a "coaching team" with a distinct identity.
Regarding the championship race, Tsitkin attributed Shakhtar's dominance to their superior squad depth and effective management. Meanwhile, he expressed concern over the lack of breakout talents among young players, noting that prospects like Matviy Ponomarenko and Nazar Domchak still have significant areas for improvement.