I'm very happy at Shakhtar
Tuesday, July 10, 2018
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The Shakhtar defender Ismaily told about his career and the upcoming season in an interview to Futbol TV channel
- There’s less than a fortnight left until the Super Cup tie. What’s the Miners’ current run of form?
- At the moment, we are trying to rediscover our top form. I joined the team a little later due to some vacation issues, but that's okay - the remaining fortnight will be enough for us to perform well in the Super Cup challenge.
- This summer, you signed another five-year deal with the club. How difficult and long were the negotiations? What factors influenced your decision?
- I'm very happy at Shakhtar! The coaching staff, fans, and teammates trust me – that’s really important. I’m glad that I continue to work further. Of course, I had some reflections and conversations, however, to be honest, I’ve always wanted to stay here and didn’t quite consider other proposals. I reckon that I’ve made the only right decision. I hope to continue making the fans happy and winning titles together with the orange-and-black team.
- You’ve been at the club since the year 2013, and it will actually be ten years here after your contract expires. Are you considering the opportunity to spend your whole career here?
- Once I agreed to stay at Shakhtar for another five seasons, I might be really close to that. Essentially, I’m going to play football until the age of 33 or 34. The most important thing for me is that I'm very happy here and I feel great. It’s a great honour for me to play for Shakhtar and, perhaps, to finish my career right here.
- You delivered an outstanding performance last season: you were one of the best players in your role in the Ukrainian League and the Champions League. Do you think last year’s performance was the strongest in your career?
- The season has really been special. In general, when I first started at left back, I immediately realized that this is my style. Lots of great passing, the right passing – I’m really happy to be doing well. I hope to perform at the same high level this year and to help Shakhtar achieve its goals.
- Do you feel the ability to step it up even more? Is your top form ahead?
- I always try to improve my performance. I think that every one of us has the opportunity to grow. Right, last season proved just great: I’ve been to Brazil national team, and that’s another excellent experience. Nevertheless, I need to progress, get better, and see what happens.
- In the summer, three major players left the club: Ferreyra, Fred and Bernard. Fans and experts believe that you could be one of the key figures now. Are you ready for that? Who’s the current leader on the pitch and in the dressing room, according to you?
- Yes, we’ll start the new season without several important players. These guys really helped Shakhtar and were shaping the performance pattern, we will miss them. I try to take part in every episode and act for the benefit of the team, as far as possible, giving my all in every competition. And outside the field, I’m a calmer person - I don’t have that kind of leadership spirit. However, you shouldn’t doubt that in the play I will also do my best.
- Given that local footballers know several phrases in Portuguese, the team no longer feel the language barrier?
- In this respect, it’s slightly difficult, because the Ukrainian language is very complicated, being hard to learn. The Brazilians find it easy to communicate in Portuguese - we understand each other perfectly, the teammates always hear us and also try to master it a bit. At the same time, Marlos and Taison speak excellent Russian. I hope one day I will be able to do the same.
- Shakhtar very confidently won every trophy in Ukraine and proved their superiority over the opponents. Before the new season start, do you still see Dynamo as your major rivals?
- I think the fight will be just as intense. We’ve got a difficult season ahead. In the previous two years, we were really strong - Dynamo just couldn’t keep up with us. But now they have a young team: the club has signed several important performers, the players are gaining experience and with every year get stronger. The championship is expected to be even harder than the past one. We need to focus fully, have the best attitude and work really hard to win all the titles again.
- At the moment, we are trying to rediscover our top form. I joined the team a little later due to some vacation issues, but that's okay - the remaining fortnight will be enough for us to perform well in the Super Cup challenge.
- This summer, you signed another five-year deal with the club. How difficult and long were the negotiations? What factors influenced your decision?
- I'm very happy at Shakhtar! The coaching staff, fans, and teammates trust me – that’s really important. I’m glad that I continue to work further. Of course, I had some reflections and conversations, however, to be honest, I’ve always wanted to stay here and didn’t quite consider other proposals. I reckon that I’ve made the only right decision. I hope to continue making the fans happy and winning titles together with the orange-and-black team.
- You’ve been at the club since the year 2013, and it will actually be ten years here after your contract expires. Are you considering the opportunity to spend your whole career here?
- Once I agreed to stay at Shakhtar for another five seasons, I might be really close to that. Essentially, I’m going to play football until the age of 33 or 34. The most important thing for me is that I'm very happy here and I feel great. It’s a great honour for me to play for Shakhtar and, perhaps, to finish my career right here.
- You delivered an outstanding performance last season: you were one of the best players in your role in the Ukrainian League and the Champions League. Do you think last year’s performance was the strongest in your career?
- The season has really been special. In general, when I first started at left back, I immediately realized that this is my style. Lots of great passing, the right passing – I’m really happy to be doing well. I hope to perform at the same high level this year and to help Shakhtar achieve its goals.
- Do you feel the ability to step it up even more? Is your top form ahead?
- I always try to improve my performance. I think that every one of us has the opportunity to grow. Right, last season proved just great: I’ve been to Brazil national team, and that’s another excellent experience. Nevertheless, I need to progress, get better, and see what happens.
- In the summer, three major players left the club: Ferreyra, Fred and Bernard. Fans and experts believe that you could be one of the key figures now. Are you ready for that? Who’s the current leader on the pitch and in the dressing room, according to you?
- Yes, we’ll start the new season without several important players. These guys really helped Shakhtar and were shaping the performance pattern, we will miss them. I try to take part in every episode and act for the benefit of the team, as far as possible, giving my all in every competition. And outside the field, I’m a calmer person - I don’t have that kind of leadership spirit. However, you shouldn’t doubt that in the play I will also do my best.
- Given that local footballers know several phrases in Portuguese, the team no longer feel the language barrier?
- In this respect, it’s slightly difficult, because the Ukrainian language is very complicated, being hard to learn. The Brazilians find it easy to communicate in Portuguese - we understand each other perfectly, the teammates always hear us and also try to master it a bit. At the same time, Marlos and Taison speak excellent Russian. I hope one day I will be able to do the same.
- Shakhtar very confidently won every trophy in Ukraine and proved their superiority over the opponents. Before the new season start, do you still see Dynamo as your major rivals?
- I think the fight will be just as intense. We’ve got a difficult season ahead. In the previous two years, we were really strong - Dynamo just couldn’t keep up with us. But now they have a young team: the club has signed several important performers, the players are gaining experience and with every year get stronger. The championship is expected to be even harder than the past one. We need to focus fully, have the best attitude and work really hard to win all the titles again.