The referee should have allowed finishing off
Friday, February 16, 2024
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Shakhtar captain Taras Stepanenko reflects on the UEFA Europa League knockout round match against Marseille
– Taras, Shakhtar began their journey in the Europa League! How was the first competitive match for the team?
– I think that we played well, sometimes even dominated and created quite a few chances. However, we conceded due to own mistakes and had to come back twice. It is necessary to eliminate these mistakes and work on being more focused in the next match and play where the opponents allow it. Opponents like Marseille have the quality to create dangerous situations through the individual actions of their players.
– Did you earn a point or lose two in this draw?
– We can say that we won one point considering our comeback because we netted the second goal at the end of the match. But if we analyse the game as a whole, we could show a more confident play.
– There were many controversial moments, in particular in the 26th minute. What can you say about this episode?
– I asked the referee why he whistled as I noticed that he made a mistake. The referee replied that the players had stopped, when in fact no one had and the game continued. I think he whistled thinking the keeper got his hands on the ball, but he let it go. According to modern rules, the referee The referee should have allowed finishing off and then check the VAR.
– If the goal had been scored, how could the match have turned out?
– It's hard to say, but when you score, you obviously have an advantage and the opponents have to attack, open up and create free zones. But we had to come back while they dropped deep, which gave them more open spaces to counter-attack.
– The return leg will take place in a week. What will be the most important and most difficult in the tie?
– The most important thing is victory. Marseille are a team with a great support. We felt it during the match and there will a full stadium in France. The team are used to such an atmosphere, so we will play our football without worrying about anything.
– How to act against Aubameyang to prevent him from scoring again?
– Aubameyang is an experienced player and team leader who has played in many top clubs in Europe, so he knows how to act in different situations. If we turn on his strengths and play with focus, we can do it. He has qualities allowing him to decide the game or provide assists through his individual actions. The fewer mistakes we make and the more we force our opponents to make mistakes, the better it is for us.
– In addition to the fact that Ukrainians come to the stadium and support you, many local fans also sincerely support the team. How does their support feel on the field?
– Great atmosphere! We are grateful to our citizens who came to support us, as well as to the Germans who supported our team.
– I think that we played well, sometimes even dominated and created quite a few chances. However, we conceded due to own mistakes and had to come back twice. It is necessary to eliminate these mistakes and work on being more focused in the next match and play where the opponents allow it. Opponents like Marseille have the quality to create dangerous situations through the individual actions of their players.
– Did you earn a point or lose two in this draw?
– We can say that we won one point considering our comeback because we netted the second goal at the end of the match. But if we analyse the game as a whole, we could show a more confident play.
– There were many controversial moments, in particular in the 26th minute. What can you say about this episode?
– I asked the referee why he whistled as I noticed that he made a mistake. The referee replied that the players had stopped, when in fact no one had and the game continued. I think he whistled thinking the keeper got his hands on the ball, but he let it go. According to modern rules, the referee The referee should have allowed finishing off and then check the VAR.
– If the goal had been scored, how could the match have turned out?
– It's hard to say, but when you score, you obviously have an advantage and the opponents have to attack, open up and create free zones. But we had to come back while they dropped deep, which gave them more open spaces to counter-attack.
– The return leg will take place in a week. What will be the most important and most difficult in the tie?
– The most important thing is victory. Marseille are a team with a great support. We felt it during the match and there will a full stadium in France. The team are used to such an atmosphere, so we will play our football without worrying about anything.
– How to act against Aubameyang to prevent him from scoring again?
– Aubameyang is an experienced player and team leader who has played in many top clubs in Europe, so he knows how to act in different situations. If we turn on his strengths and play with focus, we can do it. He has qualities allowing him to decide the game or provide assists through his individual actions. The fewer mistakes we make and the more we force our opponents to make mistakes, the better it is for us.
– In addition to the fact that Ukrainians come to the stadium and support you, many local fans also sincerely support the team. How does their support feel on the field?
– Great atmosphere! We are grateful to our citizens who came to support us, as well as to the Germans who supported our team.