I liked Inter more than Real
Sunday, September 26, 2021
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FC Shakhtar CEO Sergei Palkin reflects on the 4-1 victory over Veres, Marlos's play, Traore’s mentality and the upcoming Champions League match vs Italy’s Inter
- Mr Palkin, Roberto De Zerbi has rotated the squad for the game vs Veres. Is this inevitable within the schedule that includes the Ukrainian league, the Champions League, and given the fact that you had a Super Cup decider?
- There should be some rotation after such a game as we had against Dynamo Kyiv, but no one expected the head coach to change so many players. I think this deserves respect. Replacing nine players in the starting line-up is a serious move. You need to have enough confidence in the guys who take the field because they are mostly young players. At 1-1, of course, the situation was nervous, but thank God that they changed the course of the match and won it with a good score. In general, after such matches as the Super Cup one, it’s difficult to be at the same level. By and large, we could have scored more than four goals, and this could have happened in the opening 10 minutes, but sometimes we have difficulties with finishing. Four goals is also a lot. I want to congratulate the guys: they did their best and showed their level.
- De Zerbi constantly requires the players to score more goals. Do you see the development of footballers in this regard, as they didn’t stop even when the score was 3-1?
- In general, I would like to note Traore, the strength of his mentality of a winner. At 3-1, when one can relax, we saw his desire to score more and more - this is very important. God grant that the whole team have that kind of desire. In this game, of course, Marlos was at his best, Traore and Ismaily entered the game well.
- Many fans write about Marlos that he is needed by the team and that the contract with him should be renewed. Do you plan this?
- We are ready, but, as far as I know, Marlos expressed a desire to end his career in Ukraine and leave for Brazil. At least this is the latest information available. And what happens next ... Maybe by the end of the year he will change his vision on this issue.
- The next match is against Inter in the Champions League. Do you think this team have got stronger compared to the previous meeting?
- It’s difficult to assess it that way. They sold Lukaku, signed up a couple of great players. I watched their match against Real Madrid: although they lost, they definitely had to score two goals in the first half. Inter look very good. Compared to Real Madrid – that’s the same pair we had last season – I liked Inter much more than Real Madrid. I think that at the moment Inter look best in terms of play. They have stepped it up significantly and showcase great football.
- The match slogan is ‘It’s Time to Win.’ Do you think this will be benefitted by the fact that Roberto De Zerbi has a background of meetings with Inter in Serie A and knows the team specifics?
- I hope it will. He, like no one else, knows Italian football, knows Inter. Therefore, I want to believe that this will help us.
- There should be some rotation after such a game as we had against Dynamo Kyiv, but no one expected the head coach to change so many players. I think this deserves respect. Replacing nine players in the starting line-up is a serious move. You need to have enough confidence in the guys who take the field because they are mostly young players. At 1-1, of course, the situation was nervous, but thank God that they changed the course of the match and won it with a good score. In general, after such matches as the Super Cup one, it’s difficult to be at the same level. By and large, we could have scored more than four goals, and this could have happened in the opening 10 minutes, but sometimes we have difficulties with finishing. Four goals is also a lot. I want to congratulate the guys: they did their best and showed their level.
- De Zerbi constantly requires the players to score more goals. Do you see the development of footballers in this regard, as they didn’t stop even when the score was 3-1?
- In general, I would like to note Traore, the strength of his mentality of a winner. At 3-1, when one can relax, we saw his desire to score more and more - this is very important. God grant that the whole team have that kind of desire. In this game, of course, Marlos was at his best, Traore and Ismaily entered the game well.
- Many fans write about Marlos that he is needed by the team and that the contract with him should be renewed. Do you plan this?
- We are ready, but, as far as I know, Marlos expressed a desire to end his career in Ukraine and leave for Brazil. At least this is the latest information available. And what happens next ... Maybe by the end of the year he will change his vision on this issue.
- The next match is against Inter in the Champions League. Do you think this team have got stronger compared to the previous meeting?
- It’s difficult to assess it that way. They sold Lukaku, signed up a couple of great players. I watched their match against Real Madrid: although they lost, they definitely had to score two goals in the first half. Inter look very good. Compared to Real Madrid – that’s the same pair we had last season – I liked Inter much more than Real Madrid. I think that at the moment Inter look best in terms of play. They have stepped it up significantly and showcase great football.
- The match slogan is ‘It’s Time to Win.’ Do you think this will be benefitted by the fact that Roberto De Zerbi has a background of meetings with Inter in Serie A and knows the team specifics?
- I hope it will. He, like no one else, knows Italian football, knows Inter. Therefore, I want to believe that this will help us.