Maciej Kenderzek, acting head coach of Kyiv's Dynamo, held a post-match press conference on Friday, November 7, 2026, following a 12th-round Ukrainian Premier League draw against Shakhtar Donetsk. The Polish specialist, whose name and status as "acting head coach" were displayed on the nameplate in front of him, made no secret that the result did not completely satisfy him, though he emphasized that the team finished the match without any red cards—unlike their previous two games, which Dynamo had to finish with ten men.
"I'll start by saying that I am very glad we finished the match with a full squad this time"
Opening his remarks, Kenderzek ironically noted the positive shift in disciplinary terms: "I'll start by saying that I am very glad we finished the match with a full squad this time. This is, of course, a joke, since we finished our previous two matches a man down." The coach then moved on to the tactical details of preparing for the Ukrainian Klassiker, explaining that the main pre-match goal was to improve the quality of play with the ball: "We wanted to act more boldly, play between the lines more often, and control the ball more, because in the previous match against Shakhtar we lost it far too often."
Musical Analogy: Why the Result Did Not Bring "Complete Satisfaction"
When journalists asked whether the draw could be considered revenge for the previous encounter with the "Pitmen," Kenderzek responded with an unexpected reference to a hit by the British rock band The Rolling Stones: "If we talk about the result, right now I have a song by The Rolling Stones playing in my head — I Can't Get No Satisfaction. Meaning I didn't get complete satisfaction. Of course, that's a joke." At the same time, the coach emphasized that both matches against Shakhtar had fundamentally different characters: "These were two different matches. Perhaps it had to be this way: in the previous game we had to endure a lot in order to play just like that against Kryvbas and today against Shakhtar. We prepared a separate plan for each fixture, and perhaps that was for the best."
"In many moments we looked on par with Shakhtar or were even better"
Despite missing out on three points, Kenderzek expressed satisfaction with his players' performance. "Right now I only have positive emotions. We played against a very good team that plays in the Champions League, and against a strong coach. If you break down this game, you will see that in many moments we looked on par with Shakhtar or were even better," the manager stated. He also highlighted the value of such a match for the team's development: "This was a great experience both for me and for my team. I got a lot of positive impressions, along with some extra grey hairs on my head. But this is football, and I look forward to our next meeting in Kyiv."
Future at Dynamo: "This question is not for me"
A separate block of the press conference focused on Kenderzek's prospects at the capital club. Given that the Polish specialist has already invited three assistants to his coaching staff, journalists asked how long he expects to remain at the helm. Kenderzek avoided giving a specific timeframe: "This question is not for me. I am focused on my daily work. I cannot say how long I will work here, but I hope this period will be long." At the same time, he emphasized that he feels comfortable at the club: "I feel very comfortable at the club. Everyone—both in the team and in the office—helps me. I feel truly good here. Besides, I have been living in Kyiv for 15 months already, and I like it here."
Context: Draw in the 12th Round and Table Position
As a reminder, Kyiv's Dynamo failed to capitalize on a numerical advantage and drew with Shakhtar Donetsk in the 12th round of the Ukrainian Premier League. The match was the second consecutive encounter between the two teams this current season. For Dynamo, competing under an interim manager, the result continued a series of matches where the team displays unstable discipline yet plays competitive football against strong opponents. The Kyiv side will play their next meeting against Shakhtar at their home stadium, and according to Kenderzek, he is "looking forward" to it.
