The PSV vs Shakhtar match will be special to me
Friday, November 15, 2024
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November 15 is the birthday of Shakhtar assistant head coach Chris van der Weerden. He turned 52
– Happy Birthday, Chris! How are you spending this day? From which coaches and players did you receive your first greetings?
– The first to greet me were Jeroen Schepens, Vitalii Khlivniuk, Oleksandr Zubkov and, of course, Mister. I'm having a party with my family and friends tonight. It's nice to come home to celebrate with your loved ones.
– You have been working in Marino Pusic’s coaching staff at Shakhtar for almost a year. What can you say about the team, the club, Ukraine? What are your most memorable impressions from this time?
– This year of working at Shakhtar has been a very good experience for me, because I work at a club with a great team that I enjoy interacting with every day. It’s also very pleasant to work on the same thing with such kind and dedicated people who are part of the club. I have a lot of respect for all the players for being able to perform in these difficult circumstances at such a difficult time. All of them are great professionals. The emotions from the golden double we won – victories in the league and the Cup – were the most memorable. As for Ukraine, it made a great impression on me, although now is a difficult time for the country. I noticed that people in Ukraine are very friendly and welcoming. I hope the war will end very soon.
– You have worked within the PSV system for many years. Soon Shakhtar will play against the champions of the Netherlands. Surely, it will be a special match to you, won't it?
– Yes, it is a special match to me because I worked at PSV for 18 years: first as a player and then as a coach. It will be great to meet a lot of people who are still working at the club.
– You live in Eindhoven near the local stadium. Can you already feel the excitement in the city before the PSV vs Shakhtar Champions League match?
– Yes, I’m very worried because fans and people around me think they have a chance to win, but we are going to prove them wrong! But if we win, I'm not sure if my family and friends will talk to me after the game. (Laughing.)
– The first to greet me were Jeroen Schepens, Vitalii Khlivniuk, Oleksandr Zubkov and, of course, Mister. I'm having a party with my family and friends tonight. It's nice to come home to celebrate with your loved ones.
– You have been working in Marino Pusic’s coaching staff at Shakhtar for almost a year. What can you say about the team, the club, Ukraine? What are your most memorable impressions from this time?
– This year of working at Shakhtar has been a very good experience for me, because I work at a club with a great team that I enjoy interacting with every day. It’s also very pleasant to work on the same thing with such kind and dedicated people who are part of the club. I have a lot of respect for all the players for being able to perform in these difficult circumstances at such a difficult time. All of them are great professionals. The emotions from the golden double we won – victories in the league and the Cup – were the most memorable. As for Ukraine, it made a great impression on me, although now is a difficult time for the country. I noticed that people in Ukraine are very friendly and welcoming. I hope the war will end very soon.
– You have worked within the PSV system for many years. Soon Shakhtar will play against the champions of the Netherlands. Surely, it will be a special match to you, won't it?
– Yes, it is a special match to me because I worked at PSV for 18 years: first as a player and then as a coach. It will be great to meet a lot of people who are still working at the club.
– You live in Eindhoven near the local stadium. Can you already feel the excitement in the city before the PSV vs Shakhtar Champions League match?
– Yes, I’m very worried because fans and people around me think they have a chance to win, but we are going to prove them wrong! But if we win, I'm not sure if my family and friends will talk to me after the game. (Laughing.)