Tymoshchuk praise for Ukraine gains

A UEFA Cup winner with FC Zenit St. Petersburg 12 months ago, Ukraine's Anatoliy Tymoshchuk believes years of hard work underpin his homeland's success in providing a representative for the 2008/09 final.

Unforgettable experience
Tymoshchuk lifted the trophy with his Russian club in 2008, and the midfielder is well aware of the excitement that awaits the winners of an all-Ukrainian semi-final between FC Dynamo Kyiv and FC Shakhtar Donetsk at Istanbul's Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium on 20 May. As he looked back on Zenit's 2-0 victory against Rangers FC in Manchester, Tymoshchuk told uefa.com: "Winning the trophy was a huge achievement, an unforgettable and excellent experience. The atmosphere in and around the stadium was fantastic. It made unforgettable impressions on my heart and eyes."

Victory hunger
Similar emotions will be in store for either Shakhtar or Dynamo next month in what has already been a memorable season for Ukrainian football, and Tymoshchuk has a straightforward explanation for a degree of success he believes is long overdue. "Ukrainian clubs have a real hunger in European club competitions," he said. "They have had a long journey to get here, over the course of our nation's history. Knowing the aspirations and dedication of the clubs, it should have happened before. It has happened now. Over the past five years, Shakhtar and Dynamo in particular have been very professional in their training of young players. The youth development structures are organised at a very high level at both clubs. In the near future, they will bear even more fruit."

'Unpredictable encounters'
Having spent ten years in the first team at Shakhtar before joining Zenit in 2007, Tymoshchuk – who will join FC Bayern München in the summer – will be taking a close interest in the tie. "Obviously, I played in many Shakhtar-Dynamo games, scored several goals and enjoyed a few victories. Games between the clubs are played in a different atmosphere as both are chasing the league title or a place in the Champions League. The matches have always been up in the air and unpredictable. I can remember plenty of those encounters and every game is unforgettable in its own way."

Triumphal return
The Zenit midfielder can well imagine what a Ukrainian success would mean for the players should they beat their German opponents. "It would be as unforgettable for them as it was for us to lift this piece of silverware," he said, adding patriotically: "I hope one of these two teams lift the trophy and return to Ukraine in triumph."