We are looking forward to playing the first game and returning to Ukraine!
Sunday, February 16, 2025
|
Shakhtar head coach Marino Pusic talked about the final test match of the winter training camp against Dila (2-0)
– Mister, congratulations on the victory! Please, analyse Shakhtar’s match against Dila. Did the team follow all your instructions well?
– I think it was a very good training. We practised with some players on the pitch next to this one as well. We tried to give everyone 90 minutes of playing time, a real workload, and I think we played a very mature game – very serious, professional, very organised and focused. So I am happy with what I saw from all the guys, including the players who came on in the last thirty minutes – they all showed a good level. In the first half, we probably could have scored four or five more goals, but altogether, we did not concede, we were very aggressive – in a positive way – in the duels and did not allow the opponent to shoot on the goal. It was good on our part.
– Marian Shved was injured during the match. What is wrong with him? Do you know anything about the time it will take for him to recover?
– We do not know yet. When a player needs to leave the field during a match, you know that he is injured. We will probably find out tomorrow how long it will take. I think it was a normal duel, but he missed the ball and fell down, he was very unlucky. It is what it is, it is football, a contact game, different things can happen. I hope he will be back soon because he is very fit now.
– And when will Pedrinho, Sudakov and Kryskiv be able to join the general group?
– They are all in good shape. Like I said, Kryskiv was ill, he was not injured. Sudakov got injured in the last game, and he played a lot of matches, so I decided to give him some break to recover properly and be ready for next week. I expect Kryskiv and Sudakov to return next week. Pedrinho will probably also be there at the end of the week.
– During all these friendly matches, Shakhtar did not lose, the team ended one match in a draw, and won the rest of the games. What does this indicate?
– It says that we came here and worked with a great attitude, very hard, played mature matches, and it shows our winning mentality at this stage. It is very nice to see it, I am happy to feel it. And like I always say, it is not only about the result during the pre-season, because we work a lot and sometimes we go to the game a little more fatigued than normally, but it is also important to try and want to win with maximum attitude. I have to compliment all the players for this pre-season, which has been very long. We have one more week to go, but the way we work, our attitude are fantastic.
– What tasks will you set for the team from the first minutes of the first match of the second part of the championship?
– Like I said at the beginning, we needed to improve some things, actually, the things we did well, but not perfectly. We emphasised a lot during the pre-season, and I saw many good things. So, determination is very important – to still try to win, even if you are not at the top in the game, and I saw this attitude in all these matches. At the same time, we played in the Champions League, performed very well there. So, altogether, I see that we have improved. I hope we will succeed in the second part of the season as well.
– There is the last thing I want to ask about. You have not been in Ukraine for quite a long time, so have you missed our country?
– Yes, despite the situation in the country, which we all know about, of course, we are looking forward to returning, the matches and the support of our fans. We are looking forward to playing the first game and returning to Ukraine!
– I think it was a very good training. We practised with some players on the pitch next to this one as well. We tried to give everyone 90 minutes of playing time, a real workload, and I think we played a very mature game – very serious, professional, very organised and focused. So I am happy with what I saw from all the guys, including the players who came on in the last thirty minutes – they all showed a good level. In the first half, we probably could have scored four or five more goals, but altogether, we did not concede, we were very aggressive – in a positive way – in the duels and did not allow the opponent to shoot on the goal. It was good on our part.
– Marian Shved was injured during the match. What is wrong with him? Do you know anything about the time it will take for him to recover?
– We do not know yet. When a player needs to leave the field during a match, you know that he is injured. We will probably find out tomorrow how long it will take. I think it was a normal duel, but he missed the ball and fell down, he was very unlucky. It is what it is, it is football, a contact game, different things can happen. I hope he will be back soon because he is very fit now.
– And when will Pedrinho, Sudakov and Kryskiv be able to join the general group?
– They are all in good shape. Like I said, Kryskiv was ill, he was not injured. Sudakov got injured in the last game, and he played a lot of matches, so I decided to give him some break to recover properly and be ready for next week. I expect Kryskiv and Sudakov to return next week. Pedrinho will probably also be there at the end of the week.
– During all these friendly matches, Shakhtar did not lose, the team ended one match in a draw, and won the rest of the games. What does this indicate?
– It says that we came here and worked with a great attitude, very hard, played mature matches, and it shows our winning mentality at this stage. It is very nice to see it, I am happy to feel it. And like I always say, it is not only about the result during the pre-season, because we work a lot and sometimes we go to the game a little more fatigued than normally, but it is also important to try and want to win with maximum attitude. I have to compliment all the players for this pre-season, which has been very long. We have one more week to go, but the way we work, our attitude are fantastic.
– What tasks will you set for the team from the first minutes of the first match of the second part of the championship?
– Like I said at the beginning, we needed to improve some things, actually, the things we did well, but not perfectly. We emphasised a lot during the pre-season, and I saw many good things. So, determination is very important – to still try to win, even if you are not at the top in the game, and I saw this attitude in all these matches. At the same time, we played in the Champions League, performed very well there. So, altogether, I see that we have improved. I hope we will succeed in the second part of the season as well.
– There is the last thing I want to ask about. You have not been in Ukraine for quite a long time, so have you missed our country?
– Yes, despite the situation in the country, which we all know about, of course, we are looking forward to returning, the matches and the support of our fans. We are looking forward to playing the first game and returning to Ukraine!