It will be difficult vs Roma
Sunday, February 18, 2018
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Shakhtar midfielder Bernard answered questions from UEFA
Shooting the interview took place in the framework of the traditional UEFA media day ahead of the next Champions League round. We bring you the most interesting points from the talk with Shakhtar’s number 10.
- You are not very tall, we might say... Was this an obstacle for you in any way at the beginning of your career?
- It was a major obstacle. Once I turned professional it wasn’t a problem, however, in the youth ranks at Atletico Mineiro I suffered a lot of prejudice relating to that. Several people told me I would not be able to make it as a professional, precisely because of that. With all those people trying to push me down, it only made me want to be successful more, gave more willingness to win and show them just what I was capable of. So, that didn’t discourage me at any moment. It only made me more determined to improve more each day, to develop and to achieve everything I always dreamt of.
- How did your physical attributes impact on your playing style and position?
- Because I am player who doesn’t have height in his armoury … I am not very tall and I am also not a player who - how can I put it - has the physique you might expect in football nowadays. So, I think I’ve had to explore the other qualities that are innate in me. I also have the ability to exploit my best features: which are agility and speed. I have to think that little bit faster to anticipate a move first, and also to offset the factor of physical contact from other players. I think that I’m both aware of my limitations and also aware of my qualities, so I try to exploit the latter the field.
- In what areas have you developed since playing for Shakhtar?
- In many areas... I think that in terms of tactics, unfortunately, in Brazilian football schools at youth level they aren’t explained too much and you’re not shown what you’re supposed to do ... while here, it was as if I finished my football schooling, thanks to what I’ve learned from Paulo Fonseca. He’s helped me a lot and facilitated my decision-making during those key moments in football, when you need to react two or three seconds faster. I think I’ve evolved a lot not only as a player, but also as a person. I’ve matured a lot.
- This is your fourth season in the Champions League and this term you are playing a very important role. You were a starter in all six matches and were able to score three goals …
- I am very happy individually speaking, because this season has been a very special season for me with Shakhtar. I have been able to help the squad in the best way possible, with goals and with assists. And it’s not just me, the entire squad has been playing very well in the Champions League. I think that reflects also the work with Paulo Fonseca. It is an important season, a season where we have been playing great, but we’ve only taken the first step. We have a very important next step against Roma in the Round of 16. So, I think we have to continue being focused and concentrated for these matches because we know that they are difficult matches and, for me, right now, they are some of the most important matches of the season.
- Roma have four Brazilians in their squad. What strong qualities do they have?
- I think that they are good players, no doubt about it. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be at Roma, because Roma are a very big club, one that has a lot of history. I think that it’s important for us to be aware of their quality as a squad. Individually … we end up doing what has to be done on the pitch in a matter of milliseconds. So, I think that if we focus a lot on Roma as a squad, I think that we can try to exploit any weaknesses they have: every team has them.
- What does the UCL success mean to the team and the supporters?
- I think that’s a great source of happiness. Like I said before, it was a very complicated group. Many people were saying that it was possible for us to not even qualify for the Europa League, but we ended up managing to advance in the Champions League in a group from which, today, Napoli are the leaders of the Italian league. Manchester City are also the leaders of the English league and we managed to beat those two teams. For us, it makes us very happy because of the work we have been doing here on an everyday basis. I think that this Champions League is turning out to be very special because of the clubs that we defeated and because of the way we played.
- Shakhtar have managed to adapt to the Metalist stadium in Kharkiv. Do you feel almost at home there?
- It’s difficult to say you feel like you’re at home because, unfortunately, we had to leave Donetsk, an excellent stadium, an excellent atmosphere. Our home will always be the Donbass. However, with all these difficulties that we’ve faced, we’ve ended up adopting Kharkiv and Kharkiv have ended up adopting us for our matches - and we have been experiencing very happy moments, moments of victory. I think that the affection we already have for the city, for everything it has been doing for us, is already very deep. I hope that we can also bring them happiness in some way.
- You are not very tall, we might say... Was this an obstacle for you in any way at the beginning of your career?
- It was a major obstacle. Once I turned professional it wasn’t a problem, however, in the youth ranks at Atletico Mineiro I suffered a lot of prejudice relating to that. Several people told me I would not be able to make it as a professional, precisely because of that. With all those people trying to push me down, it only made me want to be successful more, gave more willingness to win and show them just what I was capable of. So, that didn’t discourage me at any moment. It only made me more determined to improve more each day, to develop and to achieve everything I always dreamt of.
- How did your physical attributes impact on your playing style and position?
- Because I am player who doesn’t have height in his armoury … I am not very tall and I am also not a player who - how can I put it - has the physique you might expect in football nowadays. So, I think I’ve had to explore the other qualities that are innate in me. I also have the ability to exploit my best features: which are agility and speed. I have to think that little bit faster to anticipate a move first, and also to offset the factor of physical contact from other players. I think that I’m both aware of my limitations and also aware of my qualities, so I try to exploit the latter the field.
- In what areas have you developed since playing for Shakhtar?
- In many areas... I think that in terms of tactics, unfortunately, in Brazilian football schools at youth level they aren’t explained too much and you’re not shown what you’re supposed to do ... while here, it was as if I finished my football schooling, thanks to what I’ve learned from Paulo Fonseca. He’s helped me a lot and facilitated my decision-making during those key moments in football, when you need to react two or three seconds faster. I think I’ve evolved a lot not only as a player, but also as a person. I’ve matured a lot.
- This is your fourth season in the Champions League and this term you are playing a very important role. You were a starter in all six matches and were able to score three goals …
- I am very happy individually speaking, because this season has been a very special season for me with Shakhtar. I have been able to help the squad in the best way possible, with goals and with assists. And it’s not just me, the entire squad has been playing very well in the Champions League. I think that reflects also the work with Paulo Fonseca. It is an important season, a season where we have been playing great, but we’ve only taken the first step. We have a very important next step against Roma in the Round of 16. So, I think we have to continue being focused and concentrated for these matches because we know that they are difficult matches and, for me, right now, they are some of the most important matches of the season.
- Roma have four Brazilians in their squad. What strong qualities do they have?
- I think that they are good players, no doubt about it. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be at Roma, because Roma are a very big club, one that has a lot of history. I think that it’s important for us to be aware of their quality as a squad. Individually … we end up doing what has to be done on the pitch in a matter of milliseconds. So, I think that if we focus a lot on Roma as a squad, I think that we can try to exploit any weaknesses they have: every team has them.
- What does the UCL success mean to the team and the supporters?
- I think that’s a great source of happiness. Like I said before, it was a very complicated group. Many people were saying that it was possible for us to not even qualify for the Europa League, but we ended up managing to advance in the Champions League in a group from which, today, Napoli are the leaders of the Italian league. Manchester City are also the leaders of the English league and we managed to beat those two teams. For us, it makes us very happy because of the work we have been doing here on an everyday basis. I think that this Champions League is turning out to be very special because of the clubs that we defeated and because of the way we played.
- Shakhtar have managed to adapt to the Metalist stadium in Kharkiv. Do you feel almost at home there?
- It’s difficult to say you feel like you’re at home because, unfortunately, we had to leave Donetsk, an excellent stadium, an excellent atmosphere. Our home will always be the Donbass. However, with all these difficulties that we’ve faced, we’ve ended up adopting Kharkiv and Kharkiv have ended up adopting us for our matches - and we have been experiencing very happy moments, moments of victory. I think that the affection we already have for the city, for everything it has been doing for us, is already very deep. I hope that we can also bring them happiness in some way.