Our goal is to win
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
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Head coach of Shakhtar Patrick van Leeuwen answered the journalists’ questions before the match against Antwerp
– Patrick, how difficult is it to prepare the team psychologically, given the recent unsuccessful results?
– It is not easy. We are talking about the Champions League – it is always difficult and it requires additional efforts and work.
– The starting line-up was very surprising in the first match. Will you surprise us tomorrow in the game against Antwerp?
– Our main goal is to win. So, tomorrow we will see if there will be any surprise for the opponents. But our task is to win.
– Do you know Antwerp well? How does the situation in Ukraine affect the preparation for the game?
– As for the first question, of course we have watched all matches of Antwerp, we know how the opponents play. We also analyse all situations, all options. As I already said, our goal is to win and to represent the team in the best possible way in tomorrow's game. With regard to the current situation, there is a war going on in Ukraine. The first difficult moment is moving within the country and abroad, because now it takes much more time. The second point: during matches in Ukraine, there are often air raid alerts, because of which our games last more than 90 minutes. It affects us psychologically and motivationally, but that is the situation. We have a war, martial law, an aggressor. And we have to adapt in such circumstances.
– Mister, after the defeat in the match against Vorskla there were rumours about your possible resignation. How do you feel now? Do you feel the pressure of the results or the trust of the management?
– Of course, the results were not like we expected. There is a bit of pressure, not outside, but rather internal pressure, which stimulates in a positive sense, motivates to win. And we know that it is the task we are facing tomorrow.
– It is not easy. We are talking about the Champions League – it is always difficult and it requires additional efforts and work.
– The starting line-up was very surprising in the first match. Will you surprise us tomorrow in the game against Antwerp?
– Our main goal is to win. So, tomorrow we will see if there will be any surprise for the opponents. But our task is to win.
– Do you know Antwerp well? How does the situation in Ukraine affect the preparation for the game?
– As for the first question, of course we have watched all matches of Antwerp, we know how the opponents play. We also analyse all situations, all options. As I already said, our goal is to win and to represent the team in the best possible way in tomorrow's game. With regard to the current situation, there is a war going on in Ukraine. The first difficult moment is moving within the country and abroad, because now it takes much more time. The second point: during matches in Ukraine, there are often air raid alerts, because of which our games last more than 90 minutes. It affects us psychologically and motivationally, but that is the situation. We have a war, martial law, an aggressor. And we have to adapt in such circumstances.
– Mister, after the defeat in the match against Vorskla there were rumours about your possible resignation. How do you feel now? Do you feel the pressure of the results or the trust of the management?
– Of course, the results were not like we expected. There is a bit of pressure, not outside, but rather internal pressure, which stimulates in a positive sense, motivates to win. And we know that it is the task we are facing tomorrow.