It is always nice to come back home
Monday, August 22, 2022
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Shakhtar midfielder and vice-captain Taras Stepanenko shared his expectations from the season start before the match vs Metalist 1925
– Taras, you returned to Ukraine, at the NSC Olimpiyskiy. What emotions do you feel?
– It is always nice to come back home. Emotions are very warm. To say the truth, I was just sitting outside for a long time when I came home. These are good feelings. We play at the Olimpiyskiy. We repeated many times that this is a historical event to play football during such time, but we understand how important it is for the country.
– There may be air raid signals during the match. Game will be interrupted. How much time the footballers need to get back on the field?
– We discussed this, but I cannot say it for sure: if it will take more than two hours, then it will be tough. Maybe, there should be some kind of bicycles for warming-up, like we saw in championship in England. Or we will maintain out muscles toned in some other way. Frankly speaking, I don’t know. I will face such situation for the first time, like everybody else. We have fitness coach. He will figure something out. Anyway, we will maintain the condition so as to come on and continue playing.
– Matches in Ukraine will be held without fans. How much you will miss them?
– Let’s say, attendance has decreased since 2014 and sometimes we even got used to play without fans. Then we played without fans due to Covid. So, I think, it is better to stay at home for security and respond to air raids. We will play for fans to watch the game on TV and enjoy the football.
– It is always nice to come back home. Emotions are very warm. To say the truth, I was just sitting outside for a long time when I came home. These are good feelings. We play at the Olimpiyskiy. We repeated many times that this is a historical event to play football during such time, but we understand how important it is for the country.
– There may be air raid signals during the match. Game will be interrupted. How much time the footballers need to get back on the field?
– We discussed this, but I cannot say it for sure: if it will take more than two hours, then it will be tough. Maybe, there should be some kind of bicycles for warming-up, like we saw in championship in England. Or we will maintain out muscles toned in some other way. Frankly speaking, I don’t know. I will face such situation for the first time, like everybody else. We have fitness coach. He will figure something out. Anyway, we will maintain the condition so as to come on and continue playing.
– Matches in Ukraine will be held without fans. How much you will miss them?
– Let’s say, attendance has decreased since 2014 and sometimes we even got used to play without fans. Then we played without fans due to Covid. So, I think, it is better to stay at home for security and respond to air raids. We will play for fans to watch the game on TV and enjoy the football.