That’s challenge for players

- Does the first-leg result and the team’s overall disappointing form in recent games press on you?

- No one will press on me as much as I do on myself. I never expect any outside pressure. I don’t wait for the moment to hear something bad about myself in order to work harder. I’ve got my duty, the responsibility of our profession - we fully assume it when we start working at this kind of place. So the biggest pressure always comes from myself - every day.

- How are you going to pull back three goals tomorrow against such formidable opponents as Roma?

- It will be really tough. But football, as we know, is a world of opportunities. We will try our best to seize one.

- Did you practise any exercises specifically for Roma today?

- Yes, there were some. Both today and yesterday.

- During the break in the match in Rome, before taking the field, one of the players said: "Everyone knows how we play." This phrase was broadcast. Do you agree that Shakhtar are too predictable now? Perhaps you are preparing some kind of surprise?

- We all basically know how other teams play. Asking the coach if he knows how his opponents will play ... Of course he does. We all know perfectly well how City play, how Liverpool play, how Madrid play. I think the footballer wanted to say that the opponents would manage to block certain actions of ours that were prepared for this match. And then let me ask you a question: why did we fully dominate it for 25 minutes of the second half and how did we manage to create so many chances? Why did we beat Real? Why did we draw with Inter? Why did we beat Desna 4-0? That is, everyone knows how we play only when we lose? It's interesting in football: everyone says that everyone knows everything. The only one who doesn't know anything is probably our coach. I think we need most of all to reflect on everything that is happening around. People read a lot, watch movies, watch TV, but I suppose that sometimes it’s better to close off the outside world and read and study less. To understand less of what is happening around you, what is really important to you. When we lose, everyone knows everything. When we win, only the coach knows it. It’s strange. Probably, this is some kind of football rule and we will continue living by these rules.

- Throughout the history of European competitions, Ukrainian teams have never been able to level the difference of three goals after the first leg. There were only 10 to 15 such occasions in history. If you make a comeback tomorrow, it will be regarded as a real miracle by everyone. Has life taught you to believe in miracles? Have there been any events in your life that were significant enough to be called a miracle?

- I will answer your question with a question, and we will talk a little. Have you been to Zagreb? Have you seen the game? In the 90th minute, did you think we could level the score? No? That’s the answer, I’ve given it. It wasn’t a miracle - it was just work. This is football, it happens. We really believe in what we do. I believe in the things my players do. And I really believe in my work. The whole world around me may say no, but I will believe. Anything can be said, but I’m really focussed on my work. These days, the world has bene doing something that should not have been done – they just discuss and procrastinate about what others say. But people do not say what they think, they do not say it directly. They talk because others talk, express opinions because others do so. I believe we should say everything that we think, to reflect on it internally. It's hard for us, really. But why can't we change everything? We think we can. This is a challenge for the players, they know their challenge. Let's try, and then we'll talk. If we lose, I’ll congratulate Roma. This is football: either we or they do it. We'll see.

- You already said that Fonseca is your friend. Can you tell us a little more of your friendship story? How did you meet? Did you talk after you had joined Shakhtar?

- Yes, we have crossed paths with Paulo several times during our careers. When I was at Porto, Paulo Fonseca came there. That was the first big step in his career. He did an excellent job and the FC Porto president Pinto da Costa invited him to take charge of the first team as its head coach. I already knew Fonseca then - we met at some meetings, had an idea of each other. When he joined Porto, I worked with the reserve team, and we talked almost every day. We met during breakfast, sat and discussed what the game should be like, shared opinions. Then, things for Paulo didn't go quite as well at Porto as he wanted, so he left and I replaced him for the first time. For a period of time, I was appointed the first team coach. Then we met in Kyiv. This was the second substitution: when he left for Roma, and I came to Shakhtar. Despite our age difference, he was the coach I paid quite enough attention to, I followed him due to the fact that we had spent some time together at FC Porto and talked often.