To show our character
Tuesday, November 2, 2021
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Shakhtar defender Dodo shared his expectations for the upcoming game vs Real Madrid in the fourth round of the UEFA Champions League group stage
- What’s your impression of last season’s encounter with Real Madrid when Shakhtar claimed two wins?
- We are well aware that, compared to last year, everything is different now. Another season, another team, another challenge. It’s true that a year ago we beat Real Madrid twice, but now we should forget those matches and focus on the upcoming game. I trust absolutely all my teammates and the coaching staff, and I am deeply convinced that we are well prepared for tomorrow's match. Now it’s very important to decently show our character on the field, to deliver some spectacular performance that’s characteristic of us, and to try to claim a win that’s so important to us.
- Why wasn’t Vinicius Junior called up to the national team of Brazil?
- That’s not my decision. The Brazil national team have a coach who decides on the squad. Without a doubt, Vinicius is a really hard-working player. He is my friend, we keep in touch, and I’m sure that thanks to his diligence he’ll win a Brazil cap one day.
- Is it true that Dentinho gives many tips to his young compatriots at Shakhtar, helping them to feel at home faster? Who will score goals against Real Madrid if not him tomorrow?
- Dentinho is a very kind person, and when young guys come to Shakhtar, he always tries to give them a hug, help them adapt quicker get used to the new country because he himself has spent a long while here. Regardless of who scores tomorrow, the main thing is that we eventually achieve victory. It doesn't matter who will put his name on the scoresheet against Real Madrid. We must try to bring into tomorrow's game everything that we practised in training and successfully demonstrated in the Ukrainian league. We need a win.
- What needs to be corrected and improved in the team's play tomorrow compared to the match in Kyiv?
- Despite the major overall defeat, we played the first half against Madrid very well and displayed good football. It’s clear that there were mistakes, but they happen in any game. Now it’s very important to approach the upcoming match being psyched up to the max. We’ve got absolute confidence in the things we do. Mister tried to convey to us all the necessary information, to work out the entire strategy for the upcoming faceoff. Tomorrow we must also try to put pressure, as we always do, despite the fact that they are Real. We can’t depart from our principles, we must display our football. Most importantly, we must take the pitch with dignity tomorrow, show on the field everything the coaches passed onto us, and secure the win.
- Can the outcome of the first leg against Real Madrid affect Shakhtar mentally?
- I don't think that last game’s result will affect us in any way. That match is history now, we have the opportunity to work on ourselves and take the field again weekly to get better. Each game is a completely new story. We lost to Real Madrid, but proved ourselves in the Ukrainian league games. We did a great job to show ourselves in a completely different way. Shakhtar have enormous potential, and it’s important for every footballer to tune in for tomorrow's match properly, show their best attributes in order to ultimately deliver some decent and spectacular performance.
- We are well aware that, compared to last year, everything is different now. Another season, another team, another challenge. It’s true that a year ago we beat Real Madrid twice, but now we should forget those matches and focus on the upcoming game. I trust absolutely all my teammates and the coaching staff, and I am deeply convinced that we are well prepared for tomorrow's match. Now it’s very important to decently show our character on the field, to deliver some spectacular performance that’s characteristic of us, and to try to claim a win that’s so important to us.
- Why wasn’t Vinicius Junior called up to the national team of Brazil?
- That’s not my decision. The Brazil national team have a coach who decides on the squad. Without a doubt, Vinicius is a really hard-working player. He is my friend, we keep in touch, and I’m sure that thanks to his diligence he’ll win a Brazil cap one day.
- Is it true that Dentinho gives many tips to his young compatriots at Shakhtar, helping them to feel at home faster? Who will score goals against Real Madrid if not him tomorrow?
- Dentinho is a very kind person, and when young guys come to Shakhtar, he always tries to give them a hug, help them adapt quicker get used to the new country because he himself has spent a long while here. Regardless of who scores tomorrow, the main thing is that we eventually achieve victory. It doesn't matter who will put his name on the scoresheet against Real Madrid. We must try to bring into tomorrow's game everything that we practised in training and successfully demonstrated in the Ukrainian league. We need a win.
- What needs to be corrected and improved in the team's play tomorrow compared to the match in Kyiv?
- Despite the major overall defeat, we played the first half against Madrid very well and displayed good football. It’s clear that there were mistakes, but they happen in any game. Now it’s very important to approach the upcoming match being psyched up to the max. We’ve got absolute confidence in the things we do. Mister tried to convey to us all the necessary information, to work out the entire strategy for the upcoming faceoff. Tomorrow we must also try to put pressure, as we always do, despite the fact that they are Real. We can’t depart from our principles, we must display our football. Most importantly, we must take the pitch with dignity tomorrow, show on the field everything the coaches passed onto us, and secure the win.
- Can the outcome of the first leg against Real Madrid affect Shakhtar mentally?
- I don't think that last game’s result will affect us in any way. That match is history now, we have the opportunity to work on ourselves and take the field again weekly to get better. Each game is a completely new story. We lost to Real Madrid, but proved ourselves in the Ukrainian league games. We did a great job to show ourselves in a completely different way. Shakhtar have enormous potential, and it’s important for every footballer to tune in for tomorrow's match properly, show their best attributes in order to ultimately deliver some decent and spectacular performance.
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