Darijo Srna: Today we gave them a great festival
Saturday, May 6, 2017
|
The Pitmen’s captain shared his emotions immediately after the title-winning match against Zorya
- Darijo, you don't leave your phone all evening. If it's not a secret, who was the first one you made a call to?
- Three years without own home. All this time, Shakhtar have been far from the hometown crowd. We play in other cities and at other stadiums, it's hard for us all. And the first person to which the guys asked to make a call was the club’s president Rinat Akhmetov to thank him for his patience, for his belief in the team and in every football player, and to congratulate him on winning the title. He brought a young ambitious coach who did his job and claimed the title for Shakhtar, the president, the club, Donetsk, Donbas and all the fans.
- Three years without own home. All this time, Shakhtar have been far from the hometown crowd. We play in other cities and at other stadiums, it's hard for us all. And the first person to which the guys asked to make a call was the club’s president Rinat Akhmetov to thank him for his patience, for his belief in the team and in every football player, and to congratulate him on winning the title. He brought a young ambitious coach who did his job and claimed the title for Shakhtar, the president, the club, Donetsk, Donbas and all the fans.
- We can see by Fonseca’s reaction how happy he is. He's now probably the happiest person in the world: you are ten-time champions, as he claims only the first title?
- Such great club cannot afford to remain without gold for two years in a row, because we had a very emotional conversation in the dressing room ahead of the match. The coach said that this was a special game, the game that everyone was waiting for, and we had to win. This victory and this title we give to all our fans! We hope that there will be peace and we will celebrate the coming success all together.
- Such great club cannot afford to remain without gold for two years in a row, because we had a very emotional conversation in the dressing room ahead of the match. The coach said that this was a special game, the game that everyone was waiting for, and we had to win. This victory and this title we give to all our fans! We hope that there will be peace and we will celebrate the coming success all together.
- There was a touching moment, when they put the banner in the centre circle, on which the names of the fans that you play for were written. What emotions did you experience in that moment?
- First of all, I want to thank Lviv, where we spent two and a half years and this season’s first part. Great big thank-you to them! Why did we move to Kharkiv? We did, since we believe that we are closer to our home, we believe that we have more fans. And we are sure that the next stadium where we come to will be the Donbas Arena. Thanks to Kharkiv, thanks to everyone who rooted for us. Today, we gave a great festival to everyone who loves football and loves Shakhtar. And we brought the Champions League first to Lviv, and this time to Kharkiv. This is our gift to the city. We feel that our home is near here, Donetsk is nearby. And it gives us strength.
- First of all, I want to thank Lviv, where we spent two and a half years and this season’s first part. Great big thank-you to them! Why did we move to Kharkiv? We did, since we believe that we are closer to our home, we believe that we have more fans. And we are sure that the next stadium where we come to will be the Donbas Arena. Thanks to Kharkiv, thanks to everyone who rooted for us. Today, we gave a great festival to everyone who loves football and loves Shakhtar. And we brought the Champions League first to Lviv, and this time to Kharkiv. This is our gift to the city. We feel that our home is near here, Donetsk is nearby. And it gives us strength.
- It turns out that Shakhtar have already knocked about all over Ukraine and became a truly popular team?
- The most important thing is that our president does not give up, he believes in us. And we do not give up. For us, the most important thing is to participate in the Champions League. We feel close to our home. It is not far. I believe that many of our fans will come to Kharkiv for the Champions League encounters to support us. Therefore, we invite them. I once again congratulate everyone on winning the tenth title!
- The most important thing is that our president does not give up, he believes in us. And we do not give up. For us, the most important thing is to participate in the Champions League. We feel close to our home. It is not far. I believe that many of our fans will come to Kharkiv for the Champions League encounters to support us. Therefore, we invite them. I once again congratulate everyone on winning the tenth title!
- One question regarding the match. You made the fans a little nervous in the dying stages?
- Of course, we haven't been in this situation for three years, so we let our guard down. We wanted the game to finish quickly. We conceded two goals, but after that we did not lose heart and created another two opportunities. The crucial thing is that Shakhtar have secured a victory and the title.
- Of course, we haven't been in this situation for three years, so we let our guard down. We wanted the game to finish quickly. We conceded two goals, but after that we did not lose heart and created another two opportunities. The crucial thing is that Shakhtar have secured a victory and the title.