The Cup is full of surprises
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
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Shakhtar manager Paulo Fonseca reflects on reaching the Cup final, the respect for the First League teams, and major personnel issues
- Good evening. Just as we expected, the match was difficult. While studying the opponents, we got convinced that they are a good, well-organized team. I respect the coach of Dnipro-1 very much: the team really have the desire to play, which is obvious. At the same time, today we were attacking almost all the time. Perhaps we lacked a few correct finishing decisions, however, we were constantly close to scoring a goal and fully controlled our defensive play. We netted the first goal nearly in the end, but it’s fully deserved. I want to repeat that we were confronted by tough opponents, whom I greatly respect. I have no doubt that if Dnipro-1 played in the UPL, they would have fought for a place in the top six. It’s great that next year they will be in the top flight. It’s also great when people come to the stadium and see a magnificent spectacle. Today, it happened just that way, in front of many fans. If Dnipro-1 advance to the Premier League, I will be very pleased.
- For most of the match, your team played aerially, making many deliveries ...
- We didn’t play just aerially. The long ball is when the goalkeeper delivered it straight into the attacking third. We constantly tried to rip open the opposition defence. Dnipro-1 perform well defensively, they cover the midfield, playing very compactly though. While playing such rivals, it’s important to find the depth. Sometimes we succeeded, sometimes we didn’t, but, most importantly, we did it.
- Have the successful substitutions become the deciding factor?
- Of course, Dentinho's goal made us very happy. Substitutions are always made in order to improve the play. Thank God, today they’ve really worked. Dentinho scored the opener, we can say that it was the decisive moment. However, the guys know this: no matter how many minutes they have (one, ten or fifteen), they need to give their maximum. The competition in Shakhtar is high and it’s important to use the available opportunities.
- Please comment on the midfield performance of the 17-year-old Arsenii Batahov. He has the minimum experience at this level.
- First of all, I want to congratulate the opponents’ manager, because it takes great courage to field a 17-year-old guy against Shakhtar. It’s clear that today Dnipro-1 dedicated most of their time to defending. It’s not so easy to assess it, but based on what I’ve seen, he played well, just like the whole team.
- How difficult was it without the three leaders - Marlos, Moraes and Kovalenko?
- In the course of the season, this has already happened. Such problems give others the possibility to play. We’ve got many young guys who go through the training process to play for Shakhtar. Marcos Antonio has made his first app in the starting XI. Yes, the absent footballers are important, but we shouldn’t get upset or cry. Some players can’t play - the others must play instead. That’s the chance to evaluate the youngsters’ performance.
- Have you heard about Inhulets before today? What do you know about the opponents?
- Yes, I already heard something, the good things. Today, I’ve had the opportunity to watch part of their performance. Of course, no one believed that Zorya wouldn’t appear in the final. I saw a very solid team who were fighting. This proved once again that there is no winner before the match. We respect Inhulets. Ahead is the final, and we must psych ourselves up for the duel, in which the opponents will do their utmost to win it.
- What about Stepanenko? What’s your prediction for the return of Kovalenko, and will he be ready for the game against Dynamo?
- I think that Kovalenko may well recover. As for Stepanenko, we are evaluating the situation just now, it’ll take a couple of days. We don’t know it yet.
- Both in the semi-final and in the final, you play against the First League clubs. Does this imply Premier League’s low level?
- Listen, the Cup in Ukraine, just as in other countries, is full of surprises. Sometimes, we are watching England or France with interest, when the representatives of the second division reach the final. Those are knockout games, anything can happen in them. The teams used their opportunity. Look at Dnipro-1: they are not here just for nothing, as they defeated Vorskla 2-0. For me, they are not the First League reps - this is the level of the Premier League. Again, the Cup is full of surprises. And in no case should we underestimate the merits of the second division sides, who are fighting and reaching the final.
- For most of the match, your team played aerially, making many deliveries ...
- We didn’t play just aerially. The long ball is when the goalkeeper delivered it straight into the attacking third. We constantly tried to rip open the opposition defence. Dnipro-1 perform well defensively, they cover the midfield, playing very compactly though. While playing such rivals, it’s important to find the depth. Sometimes we succeeded, sometimes we didn’t, but, most importantly, we did it.
- Have the successful substitutions become the deciding factor?
- Of course, Dentinho's goal made us very happy. Substitutions are always made in order to improve the play. Thank God, today they’ve really worked. Dentinho scored the opener, we can say that it was the decisive moment. However, the guys know this: no matter how many minutes they have (one, ten or fifteen), they need to give their maximum. The competition in Shakhtar is high and it’s important to use the available opportunities.
- Please comment on the midfield performance of the 17-year-old Arsenii Batahov. He has the minimum experience at this level.
- First of all, I want to congratulate the opponents’ manager, because it takes great courage to field a 17-year-old guy against Shakhtar. It’s clear that today Dnipro-1 dedicated most of their time to defending. It’s not so easy to assess it, but based on what I’ve seen, he played well, just like the whole team.
- How difficult was it without the three leaders - Marlos, Moraes and Kovalenko?
- In the course of the season, this has already happened. Such problems give others the possibility to play. We’ve got many young guys who go through the training process to play for Shakhtar. Marcos Antonio has made his first app in the starting XI. Yes, the absent footballers are important, but we shouldn’t get upset or cry. Some players can’t play - the others must play instead. That’s the chance to evaluate the youngsters’ performance.
- Have you heard about Inhulets before today? What do you know about the opponents?
- Yes, I already heard something, the good things. Today, I’ve had the opportunity to watch part of their performance. Of course, no one believed that Zorya wouldn’t appear in the final. I saw a very solid team who were fighting. This proved once again that there is no winner before the match. We respect Inhulets. Ahead is the final, and we must psych ourselves up for the duel, in which the opponents will do their utmost to win it.
- What about Stepanenko? What’s your prediction for the return of Kovalenko, and will he be ready for the game against Dynamo?
- I think that Kovalenko may well recover. As for Stepanenko, we are evaluating the situation just now, it’ll take a couple of days. We don’t know it yet.
- Both in the semi-final and in the final, you play against the First League clubs. Does this imply Premier League’s low level?
- Listen, the Cup in Ukraine, just as in other countries, is full of surprises. Sometimes, we are watching England or France with interest, when the representatives of the second division reach the final. Those are knockout games, anything can happen in them. The teams used their opportunity. Look at Dnipro-1: they are not here just for nothing, as they defeated Vorskla 2-0. For me, they are not the First League reps - this is the level of the Premier League. Again, the Cup is full of surprises. And in no case should we underestimate the merits of the second division sides, who are fighting and reaching the final.