We’ll be fully ready
Thursday, January 30, 2020
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Shakhtar manager Luis Castro summed up the results of the first training camp in Belek and told about Marlos’ future position and when the team will score more
- All the objectives set for the first training camp have been fulfilled. One of them is to look at the newcomers who have arrived with us and form a more specific opinion about them. This was done at yesterday's match and in the previous match. Today's game was absolutely different and had different targets. To differ from yesterday when we were watching the players individually, today we mainly looked at the collective principles of the team. They were expected to have a good reaction to losing the ball - and we managed to fulfil that in the match. The second goal is an excellent defensive aspect, proper control in defence, along with stable dominance in the game. And this also worked out this time. Generally speaking, we know that the guys are exhausted due to multiple workloads, but they have really proved themselves and shown that they are progressing every day - both in training and in games. I’m absolutely happy with today's training and with every player. We’ll rest for two and a half days, and at the second training camp we will continue preparing for the season’s competitive games.
- Have you decided for yourself who will go on the second training camp?
- The decision will be made within the team - by the coach and the administration. We will make the information public later. At the moment, I already have a certain rating for each player. I know that the context of our work is really tough for the guys, they are not used to it. But if you play for Shakhtar, then you must meet the highest standards. Everyone tried to prove himself: some did it better, some others did it not so well. But that’s normal. Everyone tried to do their best, and we’ll make every decision as soon as possible with the club.
- This is not the first time that we’ve seen Marlos behind the striker at the training camp. Is this a coaching experiment or are you planning to use him at this position more?
- No, we are no longer experimenting, we are sure now. During the season, he plays as number eight, number ten, or a winger. This footballer has some excellent technical attributes, he reads the game perfectly well and can operate in tight spaces. Currently, the main question for him is to reach his best form in order to perform his functions at any of the mentioned positions. I already know what Marlos is worth in those three roles, so this is not a matter of experimenting.
- Are you happy with the Miners’ fitness?
- The fact that the team are rediscovering their form doesn’t make me worry. I know that we’ll be fully prepared for the competitive games. Most importantly, the players should not get injured. Unfortunately, Solomon is out now, Kryvtsov is also injured - I hope his injury isn’t that serious. The most important thing now is to work without the players getting injured. We are trying to do that. Basically, I’m happy with the first training camp.
- On the plus side, Bondar has recovered: today, in the critical situation, you managed to change the team play, with Valerii coming on successfully ...
- Right, Bondar’s attributes are not questioned. He has a great future in football, both at Shakhtar and in the national team. This player has great prospects, therefore he’ll always bring quality while fielded.
- Aren’t you worried that Shakhtar don’t score as many goals as the fans would want them to?
- We’ll score more in due time. At the moment, I want to repeat, we are focussed on some other things: reaction to losing the ball, defence, actions in the thirds, the distance between them, positioning. The first training camp was more focussed on that. We created several scoring chances in the first half, in the second we did less. This is the issue of finishing which we will work on at the second training camp. Shakhtar have always been the team scoring many goals in the Championship. Without a doubt, we’ll continue in the same vein. It’s only a matter of time.
- Have you decided for yourself who will go on the second training camp?
- The decision will be made within the team - by the coach and the administration. We will make the information public later. At the moment, I already have a certain rating for each player. I know that the context of our work is really tough for the guys, they are not used to it. But if you play for Shakhtar, then you must meet the highest standards. Everyone tried to prove himself: some did it better, some others did it not so well. But that’s normal. Everyone tried to do their best, and we’ll make every decision as soon as possible with the club.
- This is not the first time that we’ve seen Marlos behind the striker at the training camp. Is this a coaching experiment or are you planning to use him at this position more?
- No, we are no longer experimenting, we are sure now. During the season, he plays as number eight, number ten, or a winger. This footballer has some excellent technical attributes, he reads the game perfectly well and can operate in tight spaces. Currently, the main question for him is to reach his best form in order to perform his functions at any of the mentioned positions. I already know what Marlos is worth in those three roles, so this is not a matter of experimenting.
- Are you happy with the Miners’ fitness?
- The fact that the team are rediscovering their form doesn’t make me worry. I know that we’ll be fully prepared for the competitive games. Most importantly, the players should not get injured. Unfortunately, Solomon is out now, Kryvtsov is also injured - I hope his injury isn’t that serious. The most important thing now is to work without the players getting injured. We are trying to do that. Basically, I’m happy with the first training camp.
- On the plus side, Bondar has recovered: today, in the critical situation, you managed to change the team play, with Valerii coming on successfully ...
- Right, Bondar’s attributes are not questioned. He has a great future in football, both at Shakhtar and in the national team. This player has great prospects, therefore he’ll always bring quality while fielded.
- Aren’t you worried that Shakhtar don’t score as many goals as the fans would want them to?
- We’ll score more in due time. At the moment, I want to repeat, we are focussed on some other things: reaction to losing the ball, defence, actions in the thirds, the distance between them, positioning. The first training camp was more focussed on that. We created several scoring chances in the first half, in the second we did less. This is the issue of finishing which we will work on at the second training camp. Shakhtar have always been the team scoring many goals in the Championship. Without a doubt, we’ll continue in the same vein. It’s only a matter of time.