We could advance further
Thursday, December 13, 2018
|
Press conference of Shakhtar manager Paulo Fonseca after the game vs Lyon
- Paulo, the match began from a not very pleasant moment when Dynamo fans hung out a banner and threw a flare. Did it affect the start of the game?
- What I want to assess now is the fact that 39 thousand fans were present at the stadium - I am sure, not only Shakhtar ones but also those of other clubs. We felt their support throughout the match. They created a fantastic atmosphere, it was very warm and pleasant. As I said yesterday at the press conference, a lot of people came. They knew that this was not our hometown, that we were forced to play in Kyiv, and supported us. That’s the most important thing. We should pay more attention to that, we should appreciate that kind of support.
- What are your top transfer objectives based on the match? What positions would you like to strengthen?
- We’ve been discussing those details for some time now. Earlier, I submitted information to the club management, regarding the players we need in the winter. We lost some important performers after the past season, and in any case, our team needs some strengthening. What positions? I already mentioned them before. I see no reason to reveal the cards now. We are working on this matter.
- After the first half, you replaced Khocholava with Butko, and not with Rakits’kyy. Why is that?
- I took the decision. I think it’s absolutely correct. Lyon had next to no chances in the second half. The goal scored against us was simply due to the individual brilliance of Fekir. I’m sure that I made the right decision. With Matviienko’s move to the central defender role, our defence got stronger.
- In February, the season will resume for you with a Europa League Round of 32 game. In this regard, is it already clear where you will hold the training camp, and what the winter training will be like?
- Absolutely everything has already been planned and appointed. At the right time, we will give you the comprehensive information in this regard.
- Is it important for you that you have gathered an audience comparable to Dynamo’s European club cup meetings this year? And second: for the first time in a long while, Shakhtar were basically playing a home match, since the team have long been residing in Kyiv. If the decision depended just on you, would you like to play in this city all the time, including the UPL?
- We really like playing in Kharkiv, we are happy there. We got used to that stadium, there is a large number of our fans there. In Kyiv? Why not? This match proved that Shakhtar also have a lot of fans here. In this weather, not everyone would want to come to the stadium to watch football.
- Mr Fonseca, do you consider the match a winning one? If so, what prevented you from claiming the win - psychology or something else?
- No, the match is by no means victorious. There was a draw. The result speaks for itself. I would point out that from the very beginning we managed to resist Lyon, it all worked before the goal we conceded. We were very close to advancing further in the Champions League, to doing something the team had not managed to do for two consecutive years. What didn’t work? We failed to retain the advantage we had at 1-0. Thanks to Fekir's individual brilliance, Lyon managed to level the score.
- Does Shakhtar now have an automatic objective of winning the Europa League? Moreover, the year 2019 marks 10 years since winning the UEFA Cup.
- It’s worth looking at this tournament and seeing how much it has changed over those 10 years. You can pay attention to which clubs are currently playing in the Europa League. It’s not quite fair to demand winning it from yourself now. Shakhtar, as always, will compete step by step. We will try to achieve victory in every match. Perhaps the teams playing there don’t quite have the strength that we have. TWe will try to advance as far as possible.
- How much did the weather and the snow-covered field affect Shakhtar’s performance?
- I think this in no way affected the play of both teams.
- Could you sum up the Champions League campaign? At what point did Shakhtar gather not enough points - today or in previous games?
- From the very beginning, we understood that it would be very difficult. When we got Lyon, I immediately thought how much money this club invested in its players, and what top quality players perform there. And even so, we did not lose a single game to Lyon and Hoffenheim, except for the meetings with City, we’ve got no defeats. We realised very well that the Manchester guys were the group favourites. The other three clubs could fight for the second spot. What spoilt all the calculations was Lyon’s victory over the City, and then their being tied as well. In general, the group was balanced, and we are upset that we failed to secure the second place. I nearly forgot that this was the last press conference before the New Year and the Christmas. I want to wish you happy holidays!
- What I want to assess now is the fact that 39 thousand fans were present at the stadium - I am sure, not only Shakhtar ones but also those of other clubs. We felt their support throughout the match. They created a fantastic atmosphere, it was very warm and pleasant. As I said yesterday at the press conference, a lot of people came. They knew that this was not our hometown, that we were forced to play in Kyiv, and supported us. That’s the most important thing. We should pay more attention to that, we should appreciate that kind of support.
- What are your top transfer objectives based on the match? What positions would you like to strengthen?
- We’ve been discussing those details for some time now. Earlier, I submitted information to the club management, regarding the players we need in the winter. We lost some important performers after the past season, and in any case, our team needs some strengthening. What positions? I already mentioned them before. I see no reason to reveal the cards now. We are working on this matter.
- After the first half, you replaced Khocholava with Butko, and not with Rakits’kyy. Why is that?
- I took the decision. I think it’s absolutely correct. Lyon had next to no chances in the second half. The goal scored against us was simply due to the individual brilliance of Fekir. I’m sure that I made the right decision. With Matviienko’s move to the central defender role, our defence got stronger.
- In February, the season will resume for you with a Europa League Round of 32 game. In this regard, is it already clear where you will hold the training camp, and what the winter training will be like?
- Absolutely everything has already been planned and appointed. At the right time, we will give you the comprehensive information in this regard.
- Is it important for you that you have gathered an audience comparable to Dynamo’s European club cup meetings this year? And second: for the first time in a long while, Shakhtar were basically playing a home match, since the team have long been residing in Kyiv. If the decision depended just on you, would you like to play in this city all the time, including the UPL?
- We really like playing in Kharkiv, we are happy there. We got used to that stadium, there is a large number of our fans there. In Kyiv? Why not? This match proved that Shakhtar also have a lot of fans here. In this weather, not everyone would want to come to the stadium to watch football.
- Mr Fonseca, do you consider the match a winning one? If so, what prevented you from claiming the win - psychology or something else?
- No, the match is by no means victorious. There was a draw. The result speaks for itself. I would point out that from the very beginning we managed to resist Lyon, it all worked before the goal we conceded. We were very close to advancing further in the Champions League, to doing something the team had not managed to do for two consecutive years. What didn’t work? We failed to retain the advantage we had at 1-0. Thanks to Fekir's individual brilliance, Lyon managed to level the score.
- Does Shakhtar now have an automatic objective of winning the Europa League? Moreover, the year 2019 marks 10 years since winning the UEFA Cup.
- It’s worth looking at this tournament and seeing how much it has changed over those 10 years. You can pay attention to which clubs are currently playing in the Europa League. It’s not quite fair to demand winning it from yourself now. Shakhtar, as always, will compete step by step. We will try to achieve victory in every match. Perhaps the teams playing there don’t quite have the strength that we have. TWe will try to advance as far as possible.
- How much did the weather and the snow-covered field affect Shakhtar’s performance?
- I think this in no way affected the play of both teams.
- Could you sum up the Champions League campaign? At what point did Shakhtar gather not enough points - today or in previous games?
- From the very beginning, we understood that it would be very difficult. When we got Lyon, I immediately thought how much money this club invested in its players, and what top quality players perform there. And even so, we did not lose a single game to Lyon and Hoffenheim, except for the meetings with City, we’ve got no defeats. We realised very well that the Manchester guys were the group favourites. The other three clubs could fight for the second spot. What spoilt all the calculations was Lyon’s victory over the City, and then their being tied as well. In general, the group was balanced, and we are upset that we failed to secure the second place. I nearly forgot that this was the last press conference before the New Year and the Christmas. I want to wish you happy holidays!