Shakhtar vs Dnipro: players’ opinions
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
|
The Donetsk side’s players reflected on the Ukrainian Cup semi-final
Maksym Malyshev, Shakhtar midfielder:
- We had many moments of danger, but failed to convert them. Perhaps, that is why the closing stages of the match turned out a bit nervous - it's still a cup tie. If we scored the second and the third, it would have been easier. I should also mention Dnipro keeper, which has saved his team more than once in difficult situations. As for reshuffling the line-up, we have many players, with everyone being eager to play. At the training sessions, everyone tries to prove that he is worthy of a place in the starting line-up, and the coach gives the chance to prove oneself.
- We had many moments of danger, but failed to convert them. Perhaps, that is why the closing stages of the match turned out a bit nervous - it's still a cup tie. If we scored the second and the third, it would have been easier. I should also mention Dnipro keeper, which has saved his team more than once in difficult situations. As for reshuffling the line-up, we have many players, with everyone being eager to play. At the training sessions, everyone tries to prove that he is worthy of a place in the starting line-up, and the coach gives the chance to prove oneself.
We have been preparing for a tough encounter. We realized that Dnipro concede few goals, and expected that in the first half, they would drop back
Ivan Ordets, Shakhtar defender:
- We have been preparing for a tough encounter. We realized that Dnipro concede few goals, and expected that in the first half, they would drop back. And it happened: Dnipro sat back in defence near their own goal and were looking for opportunities to launch a counter-attack. We controlled the game, but could not score. It's nice that in the second half, we converted our opportunity and took the lead. Then the opponents began to open up, play football and put pressure. As a result, free spaces appeared, and we set up even more chances: Malyshev, Blanco Leschuk and Marlos could score. It is crucial that we have not concede a goal, secured a win and reached the finals. Pray God, we register a golden brace. It will be difficult to do this, but everything is in our hands.
- We have been preparing for a tough encounter. We realized that Dnipro concede few goals, and expected that in the first half, they would drop back. And it happened: Dnipro sat back in defence near their own goal and were looking for opportunities to launch a counter-attack. We controlled the game, but could not score. It's nice that in the second half, we converted our opportunity and took the lead. Then the opponents began to open up, play football and put pressure. As a result, free spaces appeared, and we set up even more chances: Malyshev, Blanco Leschuk and Marlos could score. It is crucial that we have not concede a goal, secured a win and reached the finals. Pray God, we register a golden brace. It will be difficult to do this, but everything is in our hands.
We could have scored more, since there were conditions necessary for that. If we had realized all clear-cut chances, the final score in the match would be completely different
Bohdan Butko, Shakhtar defender:
- We could have scored more, since there were conditions necessary for that. If we had realized all clear-cut chances, the final score in the match would be completely different. As for the opponents, I should not say that Dnipro have forged one hundred percent opportunities. In any case, it's good that we have not conceded. It's difficult when the opponents drop back near their goal and put eleven men behind the ball - it's hard to carve open such a defence. Nevertheless, almost all sides play us in that way, so we were prepared for that. Rotation? Of course, it's not easy when you play a little, as you lose tone, but it's okay - we are professionals and must work at the training sessions, giving our all on the pitch to the fullest.
- We could have scored more, since there were conditions necessary for that. If we had realized all clear-cut chances, the final score in the match would be completely different. As for the opponents, I should not say that Dnipro have forged one hundred percent opportunities. In any case, it's good that we have not conceded. It's difficult when the opponents drop back near their goal and put eleven men behind the ball - it's hard to carve open such a defence. Nevertheless, almost all sides play us in that way, so we were prepared for that. Rotation? Of course, it's not easy when you play a little, as you lose tone, but it's okay - we are professionals and must work at the training sessions, giving our all on the pitch to the fullest.