Stepanenko: Olimpik are currently in form
Thursday, October 13, 2016
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At the open training session, Shakhtar midfielder answered the questions from journalists
- Is it easy to switch from the international duty to the club work, or you are used to that?
- Three days have passed now. During that time, we had a day off, then we had a recovery session. So everything’s fine, we are preparing for the league game against Olimpik. No problems at all.
- What can you say about your next opponents?
- We can see that the team are in form. Olimpik fetures some good players who currently showcase pretty good football, which in turn is reflected in the results.
- Shakhtar will have a busy schedule now: facing some important matches in the Europa League and the domestic league. Can we say that this is the most crucial period in the autumn part of the season?
- I guess, yes. In the two legs vs Gent, we can finalise the issue of advancing from the group. We also want to win the Ukrainian League title and the Cup. Therefore it is very important for everyone to be ready and available without having any injuries. I think the coach will reshuffle the squad, because we have to play once in three days, plus the pitches are getting heavy. In any case, we should approach this period of the season being very focused and watchful.
- Did you talk to the guys from Belgium? Perhaps Ruslan Malynovskyi, Serhiy Bolbat, Andrii Totovytskyi, who play in the Belgian league, might have told you something about Gent?
- No, I didn’t talk to anyone. And I do not think they will tell us how to beat Gent. In this case, it all depends on our team.
- Taras, have you still got the strength, given that you have to work on three fronts at the same time?
- Every athlete knows that as long as you are strong enough, you’ve got to sweat, as they say. But when there’s no health left, it will be time to retire. I am 27, that’s the age when you must constantly play and achieve the result. In short, when else, if not now?!
- Three days have passed now. During that time, we had a day off, then we had a recovery session. So everything’s fine, we are preparing for the league game against Olimpik. No problems at all.
- What can you say about your next opponents?
- We can see that the team are in form. Olimpik fetures some good players who currently showcase pretty good football, which in turn is reflected in the results.
- Shakhtar will have a busy schedule now: facing some important matches in the Europa League and the domestic league. Can we say that this is the most crucial period in the autumn part of the season?
- I guess, yes. In the two legs vs Gent, we can finalise the issue of advancing from the group. We also want to win the Ukrainian League title and the Cup. Therefore it is very important for everyone to be ready and available without having any injuries. I think the coach will reshuffle the squad, because we have to play once in three days, plus the pitches are getting heavy. In any case, we should approach this period of the season being very focused and watchful.
- Did you talk to the guys from Belgium? Perhaps Ruslan Malynovskyi, Serhiy Bolbat, Andrii Totovytskyi, who play in the Belgian league, might have told you something about Gent?
- No, I didn’t talk to anyone. And I do not think they will tell us how to beat Gent. In this case, it all depends on our team.
- Taras, have you still got the strength, given that you have to work on three fronts at the same time?
- Every athlete knows that as long as you are strong enough, you’ve got to sweat, as they say. But when there’s no health left, it will be time to retire. I am 27, that’s the age when you must constantly play and achieve the result. In short, when else, if not now?!