Everything depends on us
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
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Head coach of Shakhtar Marino Pusic answered the journalists' questions at the press conference before the UEFA Champions League game against Bologna
– Several leaders left Bologna in the summer, so which players of the current team can you single out?
– Of course, we can say that Bologna lost several important players this pre-season, it happens. But we must note that Bologna also managed to sign several quality performers during this period. I never single out performers individually, for me the team and the team style of play are important. Bologna performed at a very high level as a team last season. And I would like to congratulate our opponent on the historic result they achieved in the previous season. We have the top-level match in the strongest club tournament in Europe ahead of us. At this level, as I have emphasised, there cannot be any singling out of personalities, but as for specific performers, I can name Karlsson, whom I had an interesting experience working with at AZ Alkmaar; of course, I also know the majority of Croats representing the team, and I had experience in the Dutch league, so local Dutch players are not strangers to me either.
– Mister, a very simple question. Darijo Srna assesses the probability of Shakhtar’s victory in tomorrow’s match against Bologna at 50 percent. How do you rate the chances of your team?
– For me, this is the top-level tournament where chances of the teams are always 50/50 – and this is the beauty of football. And the chances are also equal in our match. Of course, certain top clubs can be singled out, but now football reached a whole new level and all teams start the match with zero in the goals scored column. Therefore, the chances of the opponents are equal tomorrow, everything will be decided on the football field.
– The new format provides that all teams play against each opponent only once. Does this lead to any changes in your approach to the match?
– If we talk about the situation in general, then, obviously, the format is very different and it requires a new approach to every game from any opponent. I believe that this format should first be tested in practice in order to form a certain impression. In words, of course, a completely new approach is expected – at least in the part that now we need to prepare for a significantly larger number of opponents. As for our attitude towards the game and our approach, there will be no significant changes in preparation for opponents, we will thoroughly prepare for every match and give our all. I think tomorrow’s match will be a great chance for us as a team to check how much the format has changed. And already after the first few games with the new format of the Champions League, we will be able to more or less draw conclusions about how much planning of approach to the opponent has changed.
– Yesterday we had an interview with Marlon Gomes, and he mentioned that he can play in different positions. Which position is a priority one for this footballer in your opinion and is he ready to return to the starting eleven after the injury?
– I am very happy that Marlon Gomes recovered and returned to the game, as well as Zubkov. But, of course, Marlon is not yet 100 percent ready. As for his last appearance on the field in the match against Karpaty, it is rather a return with a purpose of gradual integration into our team play and our style. It is very important for me that he recovered after that injury, that he returns to the squad. Now we must carefully work on his physical conditioning and, in general, on his return to the field in terms of individual performance, for which Marlon has great potential. Regarding the second question, Marlon does not have a position on the field – he is a multifunctional player who is able to play in a number of positions. Of course, this is his advantage and a big plus for us as a team in general. I would also like to add that Marlon is a very smart player. I am a supporter of modern views on football where the players have no predetermined position on the field. The way they show themselves and the set of their football skills are much more important for me. So I think the performers of such level can be equally professional in many different positions.
– A question about Mykola Matviienko. How is he feeling and will he be ready for tomorrow’s match?
– Yes, he came back from the national team with a small injury, so we kept him away in the match against Karpaty and gave him an opportunity to rest a little, considering how busy his game schedule was lately. But now he is with us, perfectly fine and absolutely ready. And as for his possible appearance on the field in the match against Bologna, tomorrow we will drink coffee and I will ask Mykola how ready he is and how he feels. However, knowing his character, I am sure that he will express full willingness to commit tomorrow and be with the team.
– Statistical portals consider Shakhtar’s chances in this Champions League to be low. Do you think that such underestimation of the team is only in your favour?
– Of course, some resources may assess our chances as not very great, and it is most influenced by current circumstances: the situation in Ukraine and all the difficulties that the team face playing under such circumstances. But what is said before the tournament or before the match does not matter much to me. Many of those who make such predictions do not have a full picture of what is happening within the team and how effectively we have been working lately. You can remember the previous season of the Champions League where we managed to show ourselves at a very high level and fought for advancing to the play-offs of the tournament until the end. I have to honestly admit that I agree with the experts who rate our chances not very high, but I also know that everything is decided directly on the football field. And tomorrow there will be a new season, a new chance and a new opportunity to prove that all estimates can be wrong. Everything depends only on us. So we are looking forward to tomorrow’s match and doing our best to prepare.
– There is a war going on in Ukraine. How hard is it for you to work in such conditions?
– Like I said before, the circumstances in which we work are really difficult, given the situation in Ukraine. But I must assure you that all representatives of our club work in incredibly coordinated manner – from players and coaching staff to every staff member. But I will say that life is what it is, and now things are like that. We must work in our current circumstances, and despite all the difficulties, we are doing our best to be at the top level – where we are now. The top level is the Champions League level, and tomorrow we will make sure to demonstrate everything we are capable of on the football field.
– Of course, we can say that Bologna lost several important players this pre-season, it happens. But we must note that Bologna also managed to sign several quality performers during this period. I never single out performers individually, for me the team and the team style of play are important. Bologna performed at a very high level as a team last season. And I would like to congratulate our opponent on the historic result they achieved in the previous season. We have the top-level match in the strongest club tournament in Europe ahead of us. At this level, as I have emphasised, there cannot be any singling out of personalities, but as for specific performers, I can name Karlsson, whom I had an interesting experience working with at AZ Alkmaar; of course, I also know the majority of Croats representing the team, and I had experience in the Dutch league, so local Dutch players are not strangers to me either.
– Mister, a very simple question. Darijo Srna assesses the probability of Shakhtar’s victory in tomorrow’s match against Bologna at 50 percent. How do you rate the chances of your team?
– For me, this is the top-level tournament where chances of the teams are always 50/50 – and this is the beauty of football. And the chances are also equal in our match. Of course, certain top clubs can be singled out, but now football reached a whole new level and all teams start the match with zero in the goals scored column. Therefore, the chances of the opponents are equal tomorrow, everything will be decided on the football field.
– The new format provides that all teams play against each opponent only once. Does this lead to any changes in your approach to the match?
– If we talk about the situation in general, then, obviously, the format is very different and it requires a new approach to every game from any opponent. I believe that this format should first be tested in practice in order to form a certain impression. In words, of course, a completely new approach is expected – at least in the part that now we need to prepare for a significantly larger number of opponents. As for our attitude towards the game and our approach, there will be no significant changes in preparation for opponents, we will thoroughly prepare for every match and give our all. I think tomorrow’s match will be a great chance for us as a team to check how much the format has changed. And already after the first few games with the new format of the Champions League, we will be able to more or less draw conclusions about how much planning of approach to the opponent has changed.
– Yesterday we had an interview with Marlon Gomes, and he mentioned that he can play in different positions. Which position is a priority one for this footballer in your opinion and is he ready to return to the starting eleven after the injury?
– I am very happy that Marlon Gomes recovered and returned to the game, as well as Zubkov. But, of course, Marlon is not yet 100 percent ready. As for his last appearance on the field in the match against Karpaty, it is rather a return with a purpose of gradual integration into our team play and our style. It is very important for me that he recovered after that injury, that he returns to the squad. Now we must carefully work on his physical conditioning and, in general, on his return to the field in terms of individual performance, for which Marlon has great potential. Regarding the second question, Marlon does not have a position on the field – he is a multifunctional player who is able to play in a number of positions. Of course, this is his advantage and a big plus for us as a team in general. I would also like to add that Marlon is a very smart player. I am a supporter of modern views on football where the players have no predetermined position on the field. The way they show themselves and the set of their football skills are much more important for me. So I think the performers of such level can be equally professional in many different positions.
– A question about Mykola Matviienko. How is he feeling and will he be ready for tomorrow’s match?
– Yes, he came back from the national team with a small injury, so we kept him away in the match against Karpaty and gave him an opportunity to rest a little, considering how busy his game schedule was lately. But now he is with us, perfectly fine and absolutely ready. And as for his possible appearance on the field in the match against Bologna, tomorrow we will drink coffee and I will ask Mykola how ready he is and how he feels. However, knowing his character, I am sure that he will express full willingness to commit tomorrow and be with the team.
– Statistical portals consider Shakhtar’s chances in this Champions League to be low. Do you think that such underestimation of the team is only in your favour?
– Of course, some resources may assess our chances as not very great, and it is most influenced by current circumstances: the situation in Ukraine and all the difficulties that the team face playing under such circumstances. But what is said before the tournament or before the match does not matter much to me. Many of those who make such predictions do not have a full picture of what is happening within the team and how effectively we have been working lately. You can remember the previous season of the Champions League where we managed to show ourselves at a very high level and fought for advancing to the play-offs of the tournament until the end. I have to honestly admit that I agree with the experts who rate our chances not very high, but I also know that everything is decided directly on the football field. And tomorrow there will be a new season, a new chance and a new opportunity to prove that all estimates can be wrong. Everything depends only on us. So we are looking forward to tomorrow’s match and doing our best to prepare.
– There is a war going on in Ukraine. How hard is it for you to work in such conditions?
– Like I said before, the circumstances in which we work are really difficult, given the situation in Ukraine. But I must assure you that all representatives of our club work in incredibly coordinated manner – from players and coaching staff to every staff member. But I will say that life is what it is, and now things are like that. We must work in our current circumstances, and despite all the difficulties, we are doing our best to be at the top level – where we are now. The top level is the Champions League level, and tomorrow we will make sure to demonstrate everything we are capable of on the football field.