We played very well
Sunday, November 11, 2018
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Post-match press conference of Shakhtar manager Paulo Fonseca in Poltava
- Good evening. Great performance by our team, very safe one. Today, we’ve shown character. From the off, we were determined to win and got off to a flying start, fully dominating it throughout, scored two goals, although could have netted even more. Defensively, apart from a couple of episodes, we operated in a very focussed manner. We reached the opposing penalty area and had multiple chances.
- Please share your take on the optimum number of clubs in the championship - 12 or 16?
- That’s an interesting question. I think the option of returning to 16 is being analysed. For me personally, the more teams the better. And to play in just two stages. However, as you understand, all the conditions are required for that. They must be perfect for so many participants to participate easily. In any case, I prefer the league of 16 clubs.
- Both Vorskla and Shakhtar played in European competitions. How did those games affect today’s one?
- We had a day more to recover. It was necessary to be careful with the team playing in the Europa League. The game on Sunday after Thursday is a very short recovery period for any team. We also needed to consider this. In most countries and leagues in such cases, the European club cup participant holds the next match on Monday. I think our representatives in the Europa League should be protected in some way, so this fact should be reconsidered. They need at least one more day for normal recovery.
- What will be the schedule of Shakhtar after some players leave for international duty?
- Right, in this period we remain with a very limited number of players. There are some injured guys - we will use this time to help them recover. And, with our small team we will carry out some regular daily work.
- Please share your take on the optimum number of clubs in the championship - 12 or 16?
- That’s an interesting question. I think the option of returning to 16 is being analysed. For me personally, the more teams the better. And to play in just two stages. However, as you understand, all the conditions are required for that. They must be perfect for so many participants to participate easily. In any case, I prefer the league of 16 clubs.
- Both Vorskla and Shakhtar played in European competitions. How did those games affect today’s one?
- We had a day more to recover. It was necessary to be careful with the team playing in the Europa League. The game on Sunday after Thursday is a very short recovery period for any team. We also needed to consider this. In most countries and leagues in such cases, the European club cup participant holds the next match on Monday. I think our representatives in the Europa League should be protected in some way, so this fact should be reconsidered. They need at least one more day for normal recovery.
- What will be the schedule of Shakhtar after some players leave for international duty?
- Right, in this period we remain with a very limited number of players. There are some injured guys - we will use this time to help them recover. And, with our small team we will carry out some regular daily work.