Double gives Dynamo new impetus

Anatoliy Demyanenko is hoping for better luck in the UEFA Champions League next season after completing a tremendous Ukrainian double with FC Dynamo Kyiv.

Final hurdle
A 3-1 win against FC Karpaty Lviv on Sunday saw the Kiev giants win the league title with a game to spare. Having beaten FC Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 in the Ukrainian Cup final in May, that meant the capital club marked their 80th anniversary with a glorious double. It was a major achievement for coach Demyanenko whose job looked to be under threat after a poor UEFA Champions League campaign.

European disappointment
Dynamo finished bottom of their section after starting the group stage with a 4-1 home defeat by FC Steaua Bucuresti. However, all of that seems to be forgotten with the 48-year-old coach saying: "We deserved the title and the cup. We did not pay attention to the pressure from the outside and the talk about my possible sacking."

Emphatic success
Having beaten perennial rivals Shakhtar three times this season, Dynamo snatched back the title in emphatic style. Now they will spend the summer months preparing for another assault on Europe. "We have two or three players who we'd like to invite to strengthen the team," said Demyanenko. "The coaching staff is also compiling a list of players who can be useful for the side."

Off on holiday
Dynamo's senior players have been allowed to head off for their summer holidays early with a reserve team being fielded for their final game against FC Arsenal Kyiv next Sunday. Having remained unbeaten throughout the campaign, they deserve the rest although midfielder Miloš Ninkovic still felt there was room for improvement, saying: "We have played some poor games this season as well."

Second star
The title was Dynamo's 12th since independence having previously won 13 in the Soviet Union. Football Federation of Ukraine president Grigoriy Surkis has suggested the club add a second gold star to their badge to recognise Dynamo's successes in both Ukraine and the USSR. Their total of 25 titles is a record in all the former Soviet republics.