We have ambitions to battle
Monday, December 19, 2022
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Shakhtar women’s team head coach Roman Zaiev summed up the first part of the debut season in the Vyshcha League
– We summed up our play after every round, analysed the season start and interim results. It should be noted that our defence line was completely renewed including the goalkeeper position. Presumably, this line was not balanced in the first matches and the girls needed some time to adapt. The central point in the development of the team was loss to Dnipro-1 because it was after that when we made thorough conclusions together. The footballers realized that they need to make even more efforts during preparation and started to play more impressively ensuring the corresponding outcome.
– You gathered a new team during the pre-season period. How was the building process?
– At first, we monitored our squad and talked to our players before everything else. Some girls could not continue cooperation with the club for various reasons. Then we decided upon positions to be closed. We instantly started looking for goalkeepers as we did not have any performers in this position. It is clear that it was hard to find high-quality reinforcement under current conditions as many Ukrainian footballers left the country because of war. We relied on young, unexperienced, but promising players.
– How long did it take for newcomers to accept your demands and play philosophy?
– Of course, they faced some difficulties at the beginning. The very name and crest of Shakhtar require completely different approach to the process comparing with the previous teams. Sometime after that, the footballers understood that all efforts and concentration must be aimed at achievement of results. I think that hard start in the matches against Vorskla and Kryvbas is connected to fact that the newcomers have not been under such pressure earlier. Complete understanding came, probably, in the match against Mariupol.
– How hard was it morally after the matches against Vorskla and Kryvbas and how did you overcome the crisis?
– It should be understood that psychological factor is very important in women’s football in the context of the final score. It is very hard to change the play pattern and result during the match, i.e., the first goal determines many things. It was exactly the first goals that broke us in both matches, and the team could no longer gather. We carried out corrections of mistakes after every match, made structural changes, but again: the girls were not ready for such pressure and importance of the result. We managed to achieve stability only through errors and continuous work.
– What do you think, Shakhtar’s youth is an advantage or an obstacle towards achievement of top result in long-time perspective?
– If we look globally, it is difficult to achieve results with young players. The success can be local, but it is very hard to achieve final results because you need time for this. Currently, we have certain players – Holovach, Mokhnach, Vyshnevska, Mostova – who are well-experienced in performing in the Vyshcha League and we took their experience and psychological endurance as a basis. I think that it was these footballers who helped the youth to reach a certain level.
– Who was the leader of the first stage?
– You can say it about every footballer in this regard because all of them progressed during this time. However, I cannot but mention Viktoriia Holovach who is both a captain and a leader. Her regular goals became a significant part of the overall result of the team at the end of the stage. Again, other players also have grown, I can tell good things about each of them and remember their contribution to general success.
– Did a series of injuries prevent the team from fulfilling their potential?
– It is very unfortunate that the players we were counting on have been injured. Experienced Yuliia Semeniuk did not even managed to make her debut for us, Alina Starukhina did not play most of the six-month period too. But it is how it happened and we gave a chance to young players. Such performance became a real school that could bring them to the team level.
– In what way do Shakhtar in the First League differ from the current one?
– The level itself is different. Obviously, the Vyshcha League is more serious, more prestigious tournament with completely different level of opponents. Also, in my opinion, the team level of the previous year’s team was a little higher than the current team had at the beginning of the season. Although, we will grow, the girls will fulfil my requirements and requirements of the club. If someone will stop understanding that you need to grow, then, probably, such footballer should not be in our team.
– Have your expectations for the Vyshcha League been met? What level is the women's premiership on?
– If I was asked about the intermediate finish at the beginning of the season, I would, probably, call it this way. If we are talking about personal matches, of course, it was tough for us to face Kolos, Dynamo, Veres. Dynamo surprised with the level of physical condition, Veres were very persistent, Kolos had a good selection of footballers, but with a small bench it is hard to count on more because you cannot affect the game during the match. I’d like to note that Mariupol looked good at the beginning of the season.
– In what match Shakhtar were able to show their mettle?
– Meeting with Ladomyr showed that our team has a mettle, the footballers have ambitions and will to play and score.
– What expectations do you have for the second stage? Will Shakhtar be able to impose a fight on Vorskla and Kryvbas?
– Today, Vorskla and Kryvbas have staff and financial possibilities to be in the first lines of the table. Undoubtedly, we have ambitions to battle, but I think that face-to-face clash with these teams will be decisive.
– Tell us about the team plans?
– The team are on vacation. Now we are deciding on the dates and location of the training camp. We work on strengthening, monitoring the player market. I will not say that there will be many of them, but I would still like to see new footballers in certain positions.
– You gathered a new team during the pre-season period. How was the building process?
– At first, we monitored our squad and talked to our players before everything else. Some girls could not continue cooperation with the club for various reasons. Then we decided upon positions to be closed. We instantly started looking for goalkeepers as we did not have any performers in this position. It is clear that it was hard to find high-quality reinforcement under current conditions as many Ukrainian footballers left the country because of war. We relied on young, unexperienced, but promising players.
– How long did it take for newcomers to accept your demands and play philosophy?
– Of course, they faced some difficulties at the beginning. The very name and crest of Shakhtar require completely different approach to the process comparing with the previous teams. Sometime after that, the footballers understood that all efforts and concentration must be aimed at achievement of results. I think that hard start in the matches against Vorskla and Kryvbas is connected to fact that the newcomers have not been under such pressure earlier. Complete understanding came, probably, in the match against Mariupol.
– How hard was it morally after the matches against Vorskla and Kryvbas and how did you overcome the crisis?
– It should be understood that psychological factor is very important in women’s football in the context of the final score. It is very hard to change the play pattern and result during the match, i.e., the first goal determines many things. It was exactly the first goals that broke us in both matches, and the team could no longer gather. We carried out corrections of mistakes after every match, made structural changes, but again: the girls were not ready for such pressure and importance of the result. We managed to achieve stability only through errors and continuous work.
– What do you think, Shakhtar’s youth is an advantage or an obstacle towards achievement of top result in long-time perspective?
– If we look globally, it is difficult to achieve results with young players. The success can be local, but it is very hard to achieve final results because you need time for this. Currently, we have certain players – Holovach, Mokhnach, Vyshnevska, Mostova – who are well-experienced in performing in the Vyshcha League and we took their experience and psychological endurance as a basis. I think that it was these footballers who helped the youth to reach a certain level.
– Who was the leader of the first stage?
– You can say it about every footballer in this regard because all of them progressed during this time. However, I cannot but mention Viktoriia Holovach who is both a captain and a leader. Her regular goals became a significant part of the overall result of the team at the end of the stage. Again, other players also have grown, I can tell good things about each of them and remember their contribution to general success.
– Did a series of injuries prevent the team from fulfilling their potential?
– It is very unfortunate that the players we were counting on have been injured. Experienced Yuliia Semeniuk did not even managed to make her debut for us, Alina Starukhina did not play most of the six-month period too. But it is how it happened and we gave a chance to young players. Such performance became a real school that could bring them to the team level.
– In what way do Shakhtar in the First League differ from the current one?
– The level itself is different. Obviously, the Vyshcha League is more serious, more prestigious tournament with completely different level of opponents. Also, in my opinion, the team level of the previous year’s team was a little higher than the current team had at the beginning of the season. Although, we will grow, the girls will fulfil my requirements and requirements of the club. If someone will stop understanding that you need to grow, then, probably, such footballer should not be in our team.
– Have your expectations for the Vyshcha League been met? What level is the women's premiership on?
– If I was asked about the intermediate finish at the beginning of the season, I would, probably, call it this way. If we are talking about personal matches, of course, it was tough for us to face Kolos, Dynamo, Veres. Dynamo surprised with the level of physical condition, Veres were very persistent, Kolos had a good selection of footballers, but with a small bench it is hard to count on more because you cannot affect the game during the match. I’d like to note that Mariupol looked good at the beginning of the season.
– In what match Shakhtar were able to show their mettle?
– Meeting with Ladomyr showed that our team has a mettle, the footballers have ambitions and will to play and score.
– What expectations do you have for the second stage? Will Shakhtar be able to impose a fight on Vorskla and Kryvbas?
– Today, Vorskla and Kryvbas have staff and financial possibilities to be in the first lines of the table. Undoubtedly, we have ambitions to battle, but I think that face-to-face clash with these teams will be decisive.
– Tell us about the team plans?
– The team are on vacation. Now we are deciding on the dates and location of the training camp. We work on strengthening, monitoring the player market. I will not say that there will be many of them, but I would still like to see new footballers in certain positions.