Former FC Barcelona coach, Johan Cruyff, defended the Ukrainian central defender Chygrynskiy following recent criticism during and after the Cup match against Sevilla.

In his weekly article Cruyff said: “If people criticize Chygrynskiy, they are also criticizing the coach” and claimed that it’s a no win situation for the club.

The Dutchman further underlined his claims by saying that “the whistles directed at Chygrynskiy were more painful for Guardiola than for the player himself”.

Cruyff also compared the Ukrainian central defender with Barca legend, Ronald Koeman, who also lived through some rough moments in his first season in Barcelona by saying: “Ronald was crucified in his first few games in Barca shirt” and added: “whistles only make things worse”.

FC Barcelona central defender Dymtro Chygrynski will be out for three weeks following the injury that occurred at the match vs. Malaga, while Thierry Henry is doubtful for Tuesday’s game against Dynamo Kiev.
Chygrynskiy, who attended the medical on Sunday to assess the extent of the problem, found himself with the strained ligament in his left leg and will miss the match against Almeria and is doubtful for Valencia trip . Meanwhile, Thierry Henry is suffering from a left groin elongation and is doubtful for Champions League match vs. Dinamo Kiev.

FC Barcelona first team conducted the Sunday morning training session without injured Henry and Chygrynskiy and Ibrahimovic, Alves, Messi and Xavi, who stayed in the gym to do recovery work.

The team returned to Barcelona at around 1AM and as soon as 11AM, the first team was already in Ciudad Deportiva for their usual training. After the grueling league match against Malaga Josep Guardiola’s men are now focused for Tuesday’s second round of the Champions League. This time the opponent will be Dynamo Kiev, which will arrive at Camp Nou as leaders of the group F.

Guardiola has fought a lot so that you be able to play in the Camp Nou. Do you feel the pressure?

The first thing feel is my desire to to play in the Camp Nou because it`s a marvelous stadium. I am very happy because Barca pressed to sign me, but I don`t feel the pressure. I want to give Barça my maximum to return the faith they showed in me: they insisted even though their first attempts had been in vain and Shaktar rejected their offers. And once here, I have to say that I did not imagine that in Barcelona, the people and everything, would be marvelous. That’s why I want to learn the language fast, to know the life of the Catalan people, to know what interests them.

Guardiola likes you a lot, is the feeling mutual?

Yes, clearly, I like Guardiola a lot.  In Donetsk I wasn`t used to have a relation like this with the coach, to have such a fluid communication. I`m not saying that it`s better that in Donetsk nor worse, it`s different, but I feel very well here with my coach and my colleagues. The relation is very good with the “míster”, he talks to me a lot and I can talk with him, I notice that he believes in me. It makes me feel integrated already. I like everything for now.

Who surprised you the most in the locker room?

I don`t want to name a particular player.  Each of the colleagues help me, talk with me, and it helped me grow my confidence; there is a special atmosphere. They always come and ask me: “How these? Everything well?”. That is very important for me.

Who are your neighbours in the locker room?

I am between Iniesta and Keita.

Impression on Iniesta?

Very well, it is a very calm and intelligent person, and a big football player.

How do you get along with the captain Puyol and the big star, Leo Messi?

Puyol for me is a symbol of FC Barcelona. In recent years, when I watched Barca I thought of Puyol and when I see Puyol I think of Barca.  He is an incredible force. Messi is an extraordinary player. I have never seen so much quality in a player. When you play against Messi, in the training, it`s impressive.

At around 11AM this morning the Ukrainian defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy has arrived in Barcelona to sign a contract with the Catalan club.
Chygrynskiy is set to undergo his medical on Monday morning and is expected to be officially presented at around 1:30 PM.

FC Barcelona, reportedly, agreed to meet Shaktar`s demands and will be paying 25 million euros for the Chygrynskiy transfer.

Chygrynskiy
“It was a rather unusual situation, playing against a team you know will be yours in a few days time. But when the game started, I had a cool head. A lot of people have talked a lot about me in recent days and I have tried to deal with it as good as I can. I have tried not to think too much about it.

We’ve played well against a great team. In the end, we lost but that’s not the end for this team. We have still the league and the Europa League left. I think I will travel to Barcelona on Sunday for the medical tests. I hope everything will be fine by then and that I will be able to sign my contract.”

Speaking about the game, the 22-year old said “it was an unusual situation to play against a team who you know that within a few days will be yours. But on the opening whistle from the referee I kept a cool head”.

Talking of the transfer, Chygrynskiy explained that “I think I will travel to Barcelona this Sunday for a medical review. I hope all is OK and I can sign the contract”.

The defender also commented about what will most probably be his final game for Shakhtar. “We played well against a great team. In the end we lost but that’s not a reason not to continue. The League and the Europa League still remain”.