Paide Linnameeskond wrapped up their Premium Liiga championship campaign with a 2-2 draw facing Flora on the 7th of November, successfully erasing a two-goal deficit from the interval. Following the confirmation of their second-place finish, head coach Tarmo Kink shared his thoughts on the team’s overall season.
Playing at home, Paide endured a sluggish beginning as they allowed two goals during the early phases of the match. However, the squad mounted an immediate response directly following the interval, netting two goals inside the initial three minutes to secure a crucial point in their closing league encounter of the year.
With this achievement, Kink achieved the milestone of becoming merely the second manager in club history to guide Paide to a second-place finish in the top tier of Estonian football. The pioneer of this feat was Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko, who managed this year’s league title winners, FCI Levadia. In a conversation with Paide’s media team alongside Baltic Football News, Kink evaluated the team’s journey and discussed their dramatic second-half comeback against Flora.
When questioned about his emotions following the conclusion of the match, Kink confessed that the termination of the season left him feeling emotionally drained, though he simultaneously commended both his squad and the entire organisation.
Expressing his pride in the dressing room, Kink noted that the first emotion was emptiness, yet he praised the players and the club, pointing out the substantial investments made in the squad and other areas. He acknowledged that while the season proved difficult, that very hardship heightened the sweetness of securing second place.
Kink observed that the opening forty-five minutes against Flora served as an accurate microcosm of Paide’s entire campaign, which consistently required the team to extract themselves from adverse circumstances. He emphasised that addressing the players during the interval was vital to convince them that a two-goal margin remained surmountable.
Describing the first half as a summary of their season, Kink remarked that the team routinely dug themselves into a hole before climbing back out. He stressed the importance of reminding the team that a 2-0 scoreline signifies nothing at half-time, noting that securing a single goal shifts the momentum, and describing the rapid succession of two goals as amazing.
Even though alternative league fixtures occurred at the same time, Paide elected to concentrate exclusively on their own display, fully aware that their destiny rested entirely in their own control.
Denying any distraction from outside matches, Kink stated they focused entirely on their own game, knowing precisely what needed to be accomplished and recognizing that everything remained in their own hands.
Additionally, Kink drew attention to the valuable contributions delivered by veteran team members such as Nikita Baranov and Henrik Ojamaa, commending their unwavering dedication throughout the entirety of the campaign.
Confirming their impact not only on the final day but across the full season, Kink praised how they were always available, demonstrated strong character, and showed a continuous willingness to run, attributes every coach desires to witness.
SOURCE NAME: balticfootballnews.com
ORIGINAL HEADLINE: Kink: Difficult season makes Paide’s second-place finish even sweeter
Source: balticfootballnews.com
