Van Leeuwen deserved this chance through his football journey
Monday, July 3, 2023
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FC Shakhtar Sports Director Darijo Srna commented on coming of new manager and other personnel news in the team
– Darijo, today Shakhtar introduced new head coach – Patriсk van Leeuwen. How would you comment on this appointment?
– I would like to once again say a big thank you to our previous coach Igor Jovicevic and his staff for a great year! They did a very good job. I remember we met here a year ago, starting our journey that ended a few days ago. Such is the football life and such is the coaching life. The club decided to invite new head coach – Patrick van Leeuwen, who has been known to us for a long time. This is a person who has travelled the entire football path and today he deservedly became Shakhtar’s coach. A representative of the Dutch school, one of the best in the world, he showed results back then with Maccabi: I remember when we worked with Luis Castro and played against them, it was very difficult for us. He also achieved a very, very great result with Zorya: they scored the same number of points with Dnipro-1 and this should also be respected. Now we are trying to take the next step and we are sure that this step should bring us even more benefits.
– You have known Patrick for a long time since 2006. What his qualities would you like you point out?
– First of all, this is a person without emotions, cold, whether he lost or won, emotions will always be the same. And I say once again that Patrick started his journey, so to speak, from scratch, and today he is Shakhtar’s coach. And it says a lot about the fact that he deserves it. Now Patrick got his chance. As of today, we have a new head coach, a new coaching staff, so we are moving on. We will do everything to strengthen the team and take another step forward in the Champions League. We are waiting for our internationals who pleased us again yesterday. We are rooting for them and hope that they will play in the final. Yesterday I spoke with Sudakov, Trubin, Mykhailo Mudryk, Ruslan Rotan, I said that we attend the finals only. Therefore, we are waiting for our internationals to gather the whole team because today we are missing 10-12 players. Besides, there is going to be a strengthening.
– Regarding young players. Patrick knows many Shakhtar players well as he was the one accepting them to the Academy. How important is it?
– Patrick knows not only our footballers, he knows all Ukrainian football, the level of our Premier League, he knows the Ukrainian mentality. Therefore, today it is the most logical and correct choice. We have invited many young footballers to this meeting who have shown themselves and proved that they deserve to try their strength in the first team. Everyone has a chance, the competition is very high and will grow every day. Whoever earns this place will stay and wear Shakhtar jersey.
– Andrii Piatov finished his performances at Shakhtar as a player. What can you say about continuing his career at the club, perhaps as a coach?
– Everything depends on Andrii. We are friends with him, but we have to be honest and speak frankly because everyone is a professional. The path he is now traveling, I have travelled myself. And FC Shakhtar never closes the door for its legends. And the door of the club is always open for Andrii Piatov. He will think for a few days now and make up his mind. But we will be happy if Andrii stays in the structure of Shakhtar.
– I would like to once again say a big thank you to our previous coach Igor Jovicevic and his staff for a great year! They did a very good job. I remember we met here a year ago, starting our journey that ended a few days ago. Such is the football life and such is the coaching life. The club decided to invite new head coach – Patrick van Leeuwen, who has been known to us for a long time. This is a person who has travelled the entire football path and today he deservedly became Shakhtar’s coach. A representative of the Dutch school, one of the best in the world, he showed results back then with Maccabi: I remember when we worked with Luis Castro and played against them, it was very difficult for us. He also achieved a very, very great result with Zorya: they scored the same number of points with Dnipro-1 and this should also be respected. Now we are trying to take the next step and we are sure that this step should bring us even more benefits.
– You have known Patrick for a long time since 2006. What his qualities would you like you point out?
– First of all, this is a person without emotions, cold, whether he lost or won, emotions will always be the same. And I say once again that Patrick started his journey, so to speak, from scratch, and today he is Shakhtar’s coach. And it says a lot about the fact that he deserves it. Now Patrick got his chance. As of today, we have a new head coach, a new coaching staff, so we are moving on. We will do everything to strengthen the team and take another step forward in the Champions League. We are waiting for our internationals who pleased us again yesterday. We are rooting for them and hope that they will play in the final. Yesterday I spoke with Sudakov, Trubin, Mykhailo Mudryk, Ruslan Rotan, I said that we attend the finals only. Therefore, we are waiting for our internationals to gather the whole team because today we are missing 10-12 players. Besides, there is going to be a strengthening.
– Regarding young players. Patrick knows many Shakhtar players well as he was the one accepting them to the Academy. How important is it?
– Patrick knows not only our footballers, he knows all Ukrainian football, the level of our Premier League, he knows the Ukrainian mentality. Therefore, today it is the most logical and correct choice. We have invited many young footballers to this meeting who have shown themselves and proved that they deserve to try their strength in the first team. Everyone has a chance, the competition is very high and will grow every day. Whoever earns this place will stay and wear Shakhtar jersey.
– Andrii Piatov finished his performances at Shakhtar as a player. What can you say about continuing his career at the club, perhaps as a coach?
– Everything depends on Andrii. We are friends with him, but we have to be honest and speak frankly because everyone is a professional. The path he is now traveling, I have travelled myself. And FC Shakhtar never closes the door for its legends. And the door of the club is always open for Andrii Piatov. He will think for a few days now and make up his mind. But we will be happy if Andrii stays in the structure of Shakhtar.