The match was decided already in the first half
Thursday, December 5, 2024
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Press conference of head coach of Shakhtar Marino Pusic after the UPL game against Vorskla (3-1)
– It seemed that today Shakhtar achieved a result in the first half, and played the score in the second half, and you let the players who did not appear much during the season to show themselves. Is it true? (ProFootball)
– Yes, I think that the match was decided already in the first half, that we played it pretty well: good pressure, a lot of good energy, we controlled the game completely from the first seconds – so it was very good. And, of course, when you start the second half with such a result, you are already thinking about the next match, but you still need to finish the current game well. I think we started the first 15 minutes okay, had several opportunities to get an even better victory, but we did not do it. Then I made a lot of changes to give time to some players who also work very hard and deserve the playing minutes, and especially to give a rest to the guys who played a lot last month. It was an important victory for us, a good victory, I think. I am very happy with today’s match, and especially with everyone being healthy before the upcoming tough game against Bayern.
– Bayern is a big challenge for Shakhtar. It is clear that you want points in the Champions League for the Ukrainian club. How are you already preparing for Bayern? What words will you say to the guys so that they come on and play against Bayern to get a positive result? (ProFootball)
– Of course, we will face one of the best clubs in the world, so it is a fantastic challenge for us. Our goal is again to present ourselves as well as possible in the game against such opponent. And, of course, like always, we will try to play the game following our philosophy. This new format of the Champions League is completely different from the previous one. I still feel sorry and hurt from the last game against PSV, where we dominated while we played 11 against 11. It was our chance to get points. And, of course, it is going to be tough against Bayern – we have to be realistic in that part. At the same time, we have the ambitions to show ourselves as well as possible in the Champions League.
– Yes, I think that the match was decided already in the first half, that we played it pretty well: good pressure, a lot of good energy, we controlled the game completely from the first seconds – so it was very good. And, of course, when you start the second half with such a result, you are already thinking about the next match, but you still need to finish the current game well. I think we started the first 15 minutes okay, had several opportunities to get an even better victory, but we did not do it. Then I made a lot of changes to give time to some players who also work very hard and deserve the playing minutes, and especially to give a rest to the guys who played a lot last month. It was an important victory for us, a good victory, I think. I am very happy with today’s match, and especially with everyone being healthy before the upcoming tough game against Bayern.
– Bayern is a big challenge for Shakhtar. It is clear that you want points in the Champions League for the Ukrainian club. How are you already preparing for Bayern? What words will you say to the guys so that they come on and play against Bayern to get a positive result? (ProFootball)
– Of course, we will face one of the best clubs in the world, so it is a fantastic challenge for us. Our goal is again to present ourselves as well as possible in the game against such opponent. And, of course, like always, we will try to play the game following our philosophy. This new format of the Champions League is completely different from the previous one. I still feel sorry and hurt from the last game against PSV, where we dominated while we played 11 against 11. It was our chance to get points. And, of course, it is going to be tough against Bayern – we have to be realistic in that part. At the same time, we have the ambitions to show ourselves as well as possible in the Champions League.