The dream of every footballer is to play in the Champions League
Sunday, September 15, 2024
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Shakhtar midfielder Artem Bondarenko about the hat-trick against Karpaty, expectations for the Champions League and reasons for conceded goals
– Artem, congratulations on the spectacular victory! You became the hero of the match against Karpaty, scoring the hat-trick. Please share your emotions and impressions of the game both on a personal level and in view of the team actions.
– I am very happy to win and come back to the Arena Lviv, because many things connect us, it is comfortable to play here. It is very nice that I scored a hat-trick, but that is part of the job.
– Still, let’s recall each of your goals and briefly describe them.
– I am grateful to my teammates Dmytro Kryskiv, Heorhii Sudakov and Oleksandr Zubkov, because there would be no goals without them. In general, I do not like to talk about scored goals because today I scored, and tomorrow it could be someone else. It is part of the job, but I am happy because only you and loved ones know how much hard work went into this. People usually see only the tip of the iceberg.
– You mentioned your loved ones, and we know that today is your wife’s birthday. So the question arises: who do you dedicate your goals to?
– Of course, I want to make this day special for my wife. After the first goal, I showed her a heart because she wanted it. I dedicate my goals to her and hope that she will remember this day for a long time.
– Newly-created Karpaty are the newcomers of the Premier League. Did you feel it or did they impose a worthy struggle on Shakhtar?
– I think, with all due respect to Karpaty, in such matches, if we are 100% focused and win the duels, everything will depend only on us. We can be satisfied, except for two conceded goals that destabilised the team a bit. But we still have some work to do.
– What do you think was the reason for these conceded goals?
– It must have been some kind of lack of concentration, but we will work on that.
– Shakhtar have the Champions League ahead. Do you think the team is ready both mentally and physically?
– I think, yes. First of all, it is a completely different tournament and mentality, and you cannot even slightly compare how the team play in the championship and how they will play in the Champions League. We will give our all and I hope that we will show good football and get the result.
– Did you miss the Champions League and are you nervous?
– I am not nervous so far, but of course we miss it, because the dream of every footballer is to play in the Champions League, and this moment is approaching.
– What should the fans expect from Shakhtar during the European Cup season?
– Emotions. Hopefully, positive ones.
– I am very happy to win and come back to the Arena Lviv, because many things connect us, it is comfortable to play here. It is very nice that I scored a hat-trick, but that is part of the job.
– Still, let’s recall each of your goals and briefly describe them.
– I am grateful to my teammates Dmytro Kryskiv, Heorhii Sudakov and Oleksandr Zubkov, because there would be no goals without them. In general, I do not like to talk about scored goals because today I scored, and tomorrow it could be someone else. It is part of the job, but I am happy because only you and loved ones know how much hard work went into this. People usually see only the tip of the iceberg.
– You mentioned your loved ones, and we know that today is your wife’s birthday. So the question arises: who do you dedicate your goals to?
– Of course, I want to make this day special for my wife. After the first goal, I showed her a heart because she wanted it. I dedicate my goals to her and hope that she will remember this day for a long time.
– Newly-created Karpaty are the newcomers of the Premier League. Did you feel it or did they impose a worthy struggle on Shakhtar?
– I think, with all due respect to Karpaty, in such matches, if we are 100% focused and win the duels, everything will depend only on us. We can be satisfied, except for two conceded goals that destabilised the team a bit. But we still have some work to do.
– What do you think was the reason for these conceded goals?
– It must have been some kind of lack of concentration, but we will work on that.
– Shakhtar have the Champions League ahead. Do you think the team is ready both mentally and physically?
– I think, yes. First of all, it is a completely different tournament and mentality, and you cannot even slightly compare how the team play in the championship and how they will play in the Champions League. We will give our all and I hope that we will show good football and get the result.
– Did you miss the Champions League and are you nervous?
– I am not nervous so far, but of course we miss it, because the dream of every footballer is to play in the Champions League, and this moment is approaching.
– What should the fans expect from Shakhtar during the European Cup season?
– Emotions. Hopefully, positive ones.