After a runaway win over a Kyiv-based Arsenal the Ukrainian titleholders answered the Press Office queries.

Darijo Srna:

—The game turned out to be tough, but good at the same time. Arsenal has got an unusual, small stadium… I do not know, maybe, we should always concede it first… It often happens we start playing better after missing a goal. Actually, we have to work on it.

—Is it possible to say Mister has got the pleasant present for his birthday?
—Yes, you are right. We were striving to gain a win, so you can call it this way. And now we have to take a rest. The previous fixture against Zorya took great pains as well as this one.

—You have mentioned about the small stadium. Did you feel Shakhtar fans’ support well?
—Of course, it was very pleasant. Thanks them a lot!

Andriy Pyatov:

— Let us start from unpleasant things. Did you see a conceded shot, while it was taking?
—It was extremely fast. Honestly speaking, I thought my partners assisted me, preventing the shot itself. Alas… The ball whizzed through on a curved path. I was on the goal line and could not clear it.

—Has not the sun blinded you in the first half-time?
—No, absolutely not.

—Yuriy Bakalov said his squad was pretty frustrated and gave up after the second goal conceded. Do you agree with this statement?
—Indeed, even in the first half-time we succeeded not only to level the score, but to dominate the opponent. Moreover, the second goal was stabbed within seconds of the referee’s blow. So it was getting more difficult for Arsenal after the break and easier for us.

—Can you consider your new away kit to be a lucky one?
—Well… The result speaks for itself. (Laughing.)

—Is the squad far from its best conditions?
—Everything is ok! The only thing is that we have to start a game more focused. It seems we bring ourselves to score too long. That is our problem.

Taras Stepanenko:

—Today’s win is very important for us.  On the one hand we perfectly realised Arsenal is a serious opponent, but on the other  there was our coach’s birthday, so we have to make a good present for him. The conceded goal brought certain irritability, but we could get concentrated  fast enough to lead the score. In the second half-time we had the game under control.

—Coming out on the pitch, what was the coach’s objective set for you?
—I substituted Tomas, so I had to take up his job. I have been in the squad for a quite long period, so I have already acquired all necessary skills in a support midfielder position. Mister said me to keep on doing this job.

FC Shakhtar
Press Office