Dnipro manager Juande Ramos is hopeful that Liverpool’s January target Yevhen Konoplyanka will prove to be the difference in their Europa League last 32 clash with Tottenham.
Despite the political unrest in Ukraine, Uefa has given the thumbs-up to go-ahead with the match in Dnipropetrovsk, 220 miles south east of the capital Kiev.
Konoplyanka was all set for a move to the Premier League, with Liverpool were desperate to land him on the transfer deadline day. Despite Ian Ayre’s effort, negotiations failed to bring the desired results.
There are suggestions that following the transfer deadline day incident, the 24-year-old is not focused completely and is placing personal glory ahead of the team effort, in order to impress other European clubs.
However, former Juande Ramos expects Konoplyanka to be in full form for this game and help Dnipro cause a major upset.
“He had a very successful training camp in Spain and he trains a lot, follows all of the directions, tries his best and I’m sure he will do his best in this competition and in this round and will help us succeed in this round,” Ramos said as quoted in The Guardian.
“The fact is that players don’t concentrate on their individual personalities, they have to bear in mind the success of the whole team and he will do his best to help his team succeed.”
If the reports are to be believed, Konoplyanka was also a target of Spurs in January. Tim Sherwood’s men will start as favourites and it will need a special performance from Konoplyanka to cause a major upset tonight.
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