We must’ve done much more
Sunday, December 2, 2018
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Shakhtar manager Paulo Fonseca summed up the meeting with Olimpik and answered the reporters' questions
- Good evening. I admit that the actions of our team and the result are poor. There was no necessary behaviour for winning. Perhaps, at the half-time break, we already got the confidence that, with such a final, the outcome of the match was decided. The guys were warned about that. In two set-play situations, when Olimpik approached our goal, we conceded two goals. This should not happen. Today, I didn’t like the performance of my footballers. Some of them should understand that in order to wear the Shakhtar shirt, they need to give more. If they don’t make enough effort to win, we end up with such results. My main criticism is addressed to my team. We didn’t work hard enough to win.
- Compared to other meetings, Shakhtar created very few chances from open play. Is it related more to Olimpik’s good performance or to the flaws of your players?
- We knew that the opponents would drop deep, defend, cause us difficulties with opening spaces and, in principle, with proceeding to the end. However, we must blame ourselves. We must have done much more to withstand the difficulties posed to us by Olimpik. We haven’t done it.
- What happened to Khocholava?
- He got some issues with his knee, and he couldn’t continue. The severity of the injury will be evaluated later.
- Vyacheslav Shevchuk pointed out that you offended him at a press conference after the cup game, saying that Olimpik had not played, with your assistant insulting him today. Can you comment on that?
- OK. I’ve never offended anyone. When I comment on what’s happening in the match, I do not offend anyone, because I respect absolutely all playing styles. But if the team comes here just to defend, and this happens on the pitch, I can’t say the opposite. And I don’t consider it as a lack of respect. It upsets me that the opponents’ coach thinks that way. I just give a comment on the game. I can’t say that Olimpik comes to show some attacking football when they spend the whole match near their box. It happened both then and now. However, I don’t see this as an insult. Our rivals display the football that they consider necessary. I'm just trying to assess the game based on how I see it ... And, I suppose, how everyone sees it. I don’t want to comment a lot and out of respect I shouldn’t do that. I think that even those who watched the match at home on TV could hear it - some people should not speak, and then remember respect. It’s better to shut the mouth and not say any bad things. I’m really upset about that. Because when some people try to take their entire protagonism in their hands, then they say some nonsense - not about the game, but about the situations which are not interesting to anyone. All this is really very sad. I don’t want to stoop to the same level. This is not my behaviour, not part of my life. There are things that are much more important to me than the outcome in any match - respect and full dedication to the game.
- In your interview to Kicker, you said that in the winter, the right-back and left-winger might be bought. Does this mean that someone will leave the team? Are there any players you would like to see in those roles?
- They study those issues. It’s clear that our team requires strengthening. If it takes place, then some players will need to leave Shakhtar.
- There are rumours on the Internet that the club is interested in the Atletico Paranaense midfielder Guimaraes.
- Honestly, I don’t know that player. I’ve got no idea who you are talking about.
- Is there a chance to see Marlos on the pitch in 2018?
- We'll see. Recently, he’s been stepping it up well. This week we will assess how the final stage of the recovery will pass and whether he will be able to help us.
- Compared to other meetings, Shakhtar created very few chances from open play. Is it related more to Olimpik’s good performance or to the flaws of your players?
- We knew that the opponents would drop deep, defend, cause us difficulties with opening spaces and, in principle, with proceeding to the end. However, we must blame ourselves. We must have done much more to withstand the difficulties posed to us by Olimpik. We haven’t done it.
- What happened to Khocholava?
- He got some issues with his knee, and he couldn’t continue. The severity of the injury will be evaluated later.
- Vyacheslav Shevchuk pointed out that you offended him at a press conference after the cup game, saying that Olimpik had not played, with your assistant insulting him today. Can you comment on that?
- OK. I’ve never offended anyone. When I comment on what’s happening in the match, I do not offend anyone, because I respect absolutely all playing styles. But if the team comes here just to defend, and this happens on the pitch, I can’t say the opposite. And I don’t consider it as a lack of respect. It upsets me that the opponents’ coach thinks that way. I just give a comment on the game. I can’t say that Olimpik comes to show some attacking football when they spend the whole match near their box. It happened both then and now. However, I don’t see this as an insult. Our rivals display the football that they consider necessary. I'm just trying to assess the game based on how I see it ... And, I suppose, how everyone sees it. I don’t want to comment a lot and out of respect I shouldn’t do that. I think that even those who watched the match at home on TV could hear it - some people should not speak, and then remember respect. It’s better to shut the mouth and not say any bad things. I’m really upset about that. Because when some people try to take their entire protagonism in their hands, then they say some nonsense - not about the game, but about the situations which are not interesting to anyone. All this is really very sad. I don’t want to stoop to the same level. This is not my behaviour, not part of my life. There are things that are much more important to me than the outcome in any match - respect and full dedication to the game.
- In your interview to Kicker, you said that in the winter, the right-back and left-winger might be bought. Does this mean that someone will leave the team? Are there any players you would like to see in those roles?
- They study those issues. It’s clear that our team requires strengthening. If it takes place, then some players will need to leave Shakhtar.
- There are rumours on the Internet that the club is interested in the Atletico Paranaense midfielder Guimaraes.
- Honestly, I don’t know that player. I’ve got no idea who you are talking about.
- Is there a chance to see Marlos on the pitch in 2018?
- We'll see. Recently, he’s been stepping it up well. This week we will assess how the final stage of the recovery will pass and whether he will be able to help us.