The most important thing is to keep maximum concentration
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
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On April 10, Shakhtar assistant head coach Mario Stanic turns 52
– Mario, happy birthday! It is common for players and coaches to spend holidays at the training session or at the match, but the team have a day off. How are you spending this day?
– Thank you for your wishes! I am getting older, I am 52, but I still feel like a child inside. Today we really have a day off, so we are just going to enjoy the beautiful weather. In the evening, we will have something like a team building for the coaching staff, and then we will have dinner all together.
– You have a rich football biography, but this is probably the first time you are working as a coach. Tell us what you like the most about this job?
– The best thing about working as an assistant coach is the opportunity to be on the pitch every day, to train together with the players, try to help them with their development. The most important thing is to have a good relationship with the players, to be there to support them every day. I also try to develop myself, learn something from the guys. It is very important.
– The crucial part of the season is currently underway, Shakhtar are in a good position – they are the leaders of the Premier League and they reached the Ukrainian Cup final. How do you feel when these trophies are so close, and what are the expectations for this period?
– Yes, at the moment we are at the top of the table, we are playing very well. The most important thing is to keep maximum concentration on the championship. There is a very tough competition in the UPL. As a player and as a coach, I understand how hard it is to win a title. We want to be at the top of the table, to win two trophies. We prepare for every game step by step, so we are focused on the next match against Vorskla. This is the only right way to prepare and stay at the top.
– Thank you for your wishes! I am getting older, I am 52, but I still feel like a child inside. Today we really have a day off, so we are just going to enjoy the beautiful weather. In the evening, we will have something like a team building for the coaching staff, and then we will have dinner all together.
– You have a rich football biography, but this is probably the first time you are working as a coach. Tell us what you like the most about this job?
– The best thing about working as an assistant coach is the opportunity to be on the pitch every day, to train together with the players, try to help them with their development. The most important thing is to have a good relationship with the players, to be there to support them every day. I also try to develop myself, learn something from the guys. It is very important.
– The crucial part of the season is currently underway, Shakhtar are in a good position – they are the leaders of the Premier League and they reached the Ukrainian Cup final. How do you feel when these trophies are so close, and what are the expectations for this period?
– Yes, at the moment we are at the top of the table, we are playing very well. The most important thing is to keep maximum concentration on the championship. There is a very tough competition in the UPL. As a player and as a coach, I understand how hard it is to win a title. We want to be at the top of the table, to win two trophies. We prepare for every game step by step, so we are focused on the next match against Vorskla. This is the only right way to prepare and stay at the top.