Oleksandriia are strong as a team
Saturday, February 23, 2019
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Shakhtar defender Valerii Bondarenko shared his expectations of the UPL round 19 major game Shakhtar vs Oleksandriia
- You finished the autumn part of the season with Oleksandriia, and you start its spring part with Shakhtar. Would you like to play your former club?
- The feelings are controversial: unfortunately, due to suspension, I will miss this match. I really wanted to play against the team I had spent two years with, but I’ll have to watch the game from the stands. I will be rooting for the Miners, as I’m currently a Shakhtar player. However, I wish Oleksandriia to achieve the objectives they set for this season.
- What are the opponents’ strengths?
- Oleksandriia are strong as a team, being very organised defensively, with the guys fighting for one another on the field. They have a great forward Artem Sitalo, who wins multiple challenges, scoring some important goals. In midfield, the pairing of Andrii Zaporozhan and Banada act together with clockwork precision, as they’ve long been performing together. It’s also necessary to beware of their fast wingers.
- How did Volodymyr Sharan’s men managed to make it among the top three contenders for medals?
- I guess, they achieved that through the team cohesion. The guys give their all on the pitch, trying to fulfil every requirement of the head coach, which brings result.
- Shakhtar have had two competitive games, while Oleksandriia are just returning from their training camp today. Who’s got the edge?
- If we talk about fitness, then I know how well Volodymyr prepares his players on the training camp. I think Oleksandriia will be in great shape. Psychologically, Shakhtar will feel much more confident, because they’ve played two official games, plus we are playing at the home ground, and that’s an important factor.
- The feelings are controversial: unfortunately, due to suspension, I will miss this match. I really wanted to play against the team I had spent two years with, but I’ll have to watch the game from the stands. I will be rooting for the Miners, as I’m currently a Shakhtar player. However, I wish Oleksandriia to achieve the objectives they set for this season.
- What are the opponents’ strengths?
- Oleksandriia are strong as a team, being very organised defensively, with the guys fighting for one another on the field. They have a great forward Artem Sitalo, who wins multiple challenges, scoring some important goals. In midfield, the pairing of Andrii Zaporozhan and Banada act together with clockwork precision, as they’ve long been performing together. It’s also necessary to beware of their fast wingers.
- How did Volodymyr Sharan’s men managed to make it among the top three contenders for medals?
- I guess, they achieved that through the team cohesion. The guys give their all on the pitch, trying to fulfil every requirement of the head coach, which brings result.
- Shakhtar have had two competitive games, while Oleksandriia are just returning from their training camp today. Who’s got the edge?
- If we talk about fitness, then I know how well Volodymyr prepares his players on the training camp. I think Oleksandriia will be in great shape. Psychologically, Shakhtar will feel much more confident, because they’ve played two official games, plus we are playing at the home ground, and that’s an important factor.