The goal is not just to qualify for European competitions but to become champions
Friday, December 27, 2024
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Shakhtar women’s team manager Roman Zaiev reflects on the year’s results, competition in the league and the team’s progress
– According to the results of the first part of the Vyshcha League, Shakhtar women's team are in 5th spot. How would you rate the performance?
– Let me start by saying that the team had a difficult personnel situation at the end of last season: many players could not help us due to injuries and the recovery process. Unfortunately, the team’s leading players left – as many as six – and an additional task arose in recruitment. Therefore, the main task of the summer pre-season was to stabilize the squad size. Taking into account professional and qualitative opportunities, we invited players who had experience of playing in the Vyshcha League. I believe that everyone who joined the team, although they are quite young, undoubtedly has great potential. The test matches during the preparatory cycle, in particular the victories over Seasters (4-0) and Obolon (4-0), gave reason to hope for a fight for the top spots, but things did not go as expected.
– The start of the season was quite tough, but later the team found their form and made it into the competitive group. How did they manage to regain confidence?
– A draw at home with Ladomyr (2-2) in the first round, followed by three consecutive defeats, seriously damaged the image and significantly affected the players' psychological state. The coaching staff had to work to calm the team and maintain faith in their own strength. The turning point was the match in Vinnytsia, where the team claimed a crucial victory over EMS-Podillia (1-0) in the last seconds. After that, a gradual restoration of the playing style promoting by Shakhtar began. The task of the autumn part of the season – getting into the top six – was accomplished, which confirms the team’s playing potential and their competitiveness.
– Has the level of competition in the league changed? Can we say that the race for top spots is more intense than in previous seasons?
– Several factors influence the level of the league of any association. Firstly, these are migration processes, i.e. the transfer of players to different teams, which can significantly affect their competitiveness. Secondly, the presence of their own reserve schools, which ensure the strategic development of the team, provided that the necessary time and infrastructure are available. Thirdly, this is the organization of the training process and the formation of a squad capable of competing at a high level. However, the most important criterion for assessing the level of the championship is, undoubtedly, the teams' performances in the European arena. In my opinion, all Ukrainian representatives have performed at a high level this season. The youth teams returned to the ranks of the strongest teams in Europe, and the national women's team, although they didn’t achieve that goal, looked quite ambitious and professional. Vorskla and Kolos also showed a decent play in the Champions League. If we evaluate whether the level of the league has increased, then, taking the above into account, the answer is yes. This is evidenced by the fact that the fight for top spots has become so unpredictable that I would not dare to predict the winners.
– Starting next season, the bronze medallists of the Vyshcha League will participate in the newly created Europa Cup. Do you consider the fight for bronze medals as one of the main tasks?
– The introduction of the second European tournament for women's teams certainly adds motivation, but our goal is not just to qualify for European competitions but to become champions of Ukraine. We will set ourselves such a task every year, regardless of whether we manage to implement it at the end of the season.
– How do you assess the team's progress given the significant change in the line-up before the season? Who stands out as the leader of the updated team?
– Indeed, the line-up has been updated by a third. Seven players have joined us, increasing competition for places in the starting eleven and fitting well into our game system. All the girls impress me with their attitude to work and responsibility to the club's requirements. Their adaptation was very quick, each player deserves the coach's trust. Regarding leadership qualities, I can say that this is a certain gift, but they all deserve respect. Later, in the process of team building, we will identify leaders.
– Which footballers would you highlight as examples of progress this season?
– I have already mentioned that last season the team lost leading players who played an important role in building of play. Five footballers, a half of the main squad, strengthened our competitors. However, Shakhtar, despite such losses, remained Shakhtar. Thanks to the new players, the team fulfilled their minimum task, and this is the common merit. This is exactly the case when the overall level did not drop, and each footballer performed her duties to achieve the result. Perhaps we have not yet seen a clearly expressed new leader, but the whole team worked harmoniously and responsibly.
– In the fall, after a long recovery, captain Viktoriia Holovach returned to the team. How important is this?
– Viktoriia Holovach is truly a leader capable of guiding the team. She is the captain, the first player from Shakhtar to be called up to the Ukraine national team, and she is very motivated. Her return, like that of Nadiia Veherych, gives us optimism ahead of the second stage of the Vyshcha League.
– What is known about the team’s plans during the pre-season spell?
– After the New Year holidays, we will return to work, begin the second stage of preparation for the second half of the Vyshcha League. All the necessary basic training is planned. We will also evaluate new players, and perhaps strengthen specific positional lines. Within the tournament framework for women’s teams of the Vyshcha and First Leagues, we will test various game models to ensure we approach the second half of the Vyshcha League competitively.
– Let me start by saying that the team had a difficult personnel situation at the end of last season: many players could not help us due to injuries and the recovery process. Unfortunately, the team’s leading players left – as many as six – and an additional task arose in recruitment. Therefore, the main task of the summer pre-season was to stabilize the squad size. Taking into account professional and qualitative opportunities, we invited players who had experience of playing in the Vyshcha League. I believe that everyone who joined the team, although they are quite young, undoubtedly has great potential. The test matches during the preparatory cycle, in particular the victories over Seasters (4-0) and Obolon (4-0), gave reason to hope for a fight for the top spots, but things did not go as expected.
– The start of the season was quite tough, but later the team found their form and made it into the competitive group. How did they manage to regain confidence?
– A draw at home with Ladomyr (2-2) in the first round, followed by three consecutive defeats, seriously damaged the image and significantly affected the players' psychological state. The coaching staff had to work to calm the team and maintain faith in their own strength. The turning point was the match in Vinnytsia, where the team claimed a crucial victory over EMS-Podillia (1-0) in the last seconds. After that, a gradual restoration of the playing style promoting by Shakhtar began. The task of the autumn part of the season – getting into the top six – was accomplished, which confirms the team’s playing potential and their competitiveness.
– Has the level of competition in the league changed? Can we say that the race for top spots is more intense than in previous seasons?
– Several factors influence the level of the league of any association. Firstly, these are migration processes, i.e. the transfer of players to different teams, which can significantly affect their competitiveness. Secondly, the presence of their own reserve schools, which ensure the strategic development of the team, provided that the necessary time and infrastructure are available. Thirdly, this is the organization of the training process and the formation of a squad capable of competing at a high level. However, the most important criterion for assessing the level of the championship is, undoubtedly, the teams' performances in the European arena. In my opinion, all Ukrainian representatives have performed at a high level this season. The youth teams returned to the ranks of the strongest teams in Europe, and the national women's team, although they didn’t achieve that goal, looked quite ambitious and professional. Vorskla and Kolos also showed a decent play in the Champions League. If we evaluate whether the level of the league has increased, then, taking the above into account, the answer is yes. This is evidenced by the fact that the fight for top spots has become so unpredictable that I would not dare to predict the winners.
– Starting next season, the bronze medallists of the Vyshcha League will participate in the newly created Europa Cup. Do you consider the fight for bronze medals as one of the main tasks?
– The introduction of the second European tournament for women's teams certainly adds motivation, but our goal is not just to qualify for European competitions but to become champions of Ukraine. We will set ourselves such a task every year, regardless of whether we manage to implement it at the end of the season.
– How do you assess the team's progress given the significant change in the line-up before the season? Who stands out as the leader of the updated team?
– Indeed, the line-up has been updated by a third. Seven players have joined us, increasing competition for places in the starting eleven and fitting well into our game system. All the girls impress me with their attitude to work and responsibility to the club's requirements. Their adaptation was very quick, each player deserves the coach's trust. Regarding leadership qualities, I can say that this is a certain gift, but they all deserve respect. Later, in the process of team building, we will identify leaders.
– Which footballers would you highlight as examples of progress this season?
– I have already mentioned that last season the team lost leading players who played an important role in building of play. Five footballers, a half of the main squad, strengthened our competitors. However, Shakhtar, despite such losses, remained Shakhtar. Thanks to the new players, the team fulfilled their minimum task, and this is the common merit. This is exactly the case when the overall level did not drop, and each footballer performed her duties to achieve the result. Perhaps we have not yet seen a clearly expressed new leader, but the whole team worked harmoniously and responsibly.
– In the fall, after a long recovery, captain Viktoriia Holovach returned to the team. How important is this?
– Viktoriia Holovach is truly a leader capable of guiding the team. She is the captain, the first player from Shakhtar to be called up to the Ukraine national team, and she is very motivated. Her return, like that of Nadiia Veherych, gives us optimism ahead of the second stage of the Vyshcha League.
– What is known about the team’s plans during the pre-season spell?
– After the New Year holidays, we will return to work, begin the second stage of preparation for the second half of the Vyshcha League. All the necessary basic training is planned. We will also evaluate new players, and perhaps strengthen specific positional lines. Within the tournament framework for women’s teams of the Vyshcha and First Leagues, we will test various game models to ensure we approach the second half of the Vyshcha League competitively.