Fantastic performance!
Thursday, January 23, 2025
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Press conference of head coach of Shakhtar Marino Pusic after the UCL game against Brest (2-0)
– We understand how many emotions you have now, but what can you say about the game? (terrikon.com)
– Of course, we all are happy about the win. Like I explained to you yesterday in the press conference, it is very difficult for a team that do not play official games before the European matches, like us, we only had two and a half weeks into the pre-season. I think we played a very mature game in all aspects. I think that in the first half we were fantastic with and without the ball. I can only complain that we scored just two goals, in my opinion we deserved to score three or four. But this is football. I think in the second half we controlled the game completely, did not allow the opponent to create chances, maybe only one shot from distance. And I also think that in the second half we were the more dangerous team, created good opportunities to score the third goal. In general, I have to say that it was a fantastic performance from us. I have to compliment all my players because they were incredibly disciplined, they worked very hard with each other. And what I actually liked the most was that we played excellent football. So, fantastic performance of my team!
– Good evening! Thank you very much for this victory – it was great. But now about the sad news: is it already clear what happened to Eguinaldo and will he be able to play in Dortmund? (terrikon.com)
– From what I could see, it does not look good, because when you get injured in the moment of a full sprint, it is not a good sign. Although it is still too early to say something definite about it, because we need one or two days to analyse the situation, and then we will know what will happen next. From my point of view, it does not look good.
– Did you see the club action in honour of the fans killed in the war? Did it influence the result? (UA-Football)
– To be honest, I did not see any actions, because I was very focused on the game, I do not know which action you mean exactly. I do not know, I did not see that. If that is the case, then of course it is always very sad when someone loses their life. We have been living in this situation for a very long time, especially the club employees and supporters of Shakhtar Donetsk, and I think that a lot of people lost their lives – this is a great grief, of course. And we always feel for our supporters a lot, we feel for the people who die during this terrible war. Some of our staff and players have also lost family members. It is always a terrible situation, a terrible moment. So, my condolences…
– Now there is hope for advancing to the play-offs. So, how to beat Borussia Dortmund in their fantastic stadium? (terrikon.com)
– I am very glad that we created this chance to play this final game, which is very good. In this competition, it is very difficult to predict how many points you will need to go further. Maybe even ten points is not enough. So, if you look at other results, it will be tough. But anyway, we will play to win, as we always do. And we will go for it. You never know, because this is football, so anything is possible. But it is difficult to predict, because other results always have an impact. And at the beginning of this campaign there were some calculations that eight points would be enough to go through, but looking at the results, even ten will probably not be enough. Let’s see.
– Now club sold Sikan, Eguinaldo is injured, Traore is the only one left. Tell us, what other options are there in the attack? (terrikon.com)
– There are always options. The situation is not perfect in terms of this right now, that is clear, but there are always options. And this is my task: if there is no 100% substitution, we chose one to create something different in this position. We are working on it and we will see. I have some ideas on how to solve this situation, and I am confident in the players whom I can put in this position, I am sure that they will fulfill this task as well. Not perfect, but it is what it is.
I also want to thank FC Schalke 04 and the German people for their hospitality and warm welcome. We felt really welcomed here. So, one more time: thanks from all of us!
– Of course, we all are happy about the win. Like I explained to you yesterday in the press conference, it is very difficult for a team that do not play official games before the European matches, like us, we only had two and a half weeks into the pre-season. I think we played a very mature game in all aspects. I think that in the first half we were fantastic with and without the ball. I can only complain that we scored just two goals, in my opinion we deserved to score three or four. But this is football. I think in the second half we controlled the game completely, did not allow the opponent to create chances, maybe only one shot from distance. And I also think that in the second half we were the more dangerous team, created good opportunities to score the third goal. In general, I have to say that it was a fantastic performance from us. I have to compliment all my players because they were incredibly disciplined, they worked very hard with each other. And what I actually liked the most was that we played excellent football. So, fantastic performance of my team!
– Good evening! Thank you very much for this victory – it was great. But now about the sad news: is it already clear what happened to Eguinaldo and will he be able to play in Dortmund? (terrikon.com)
– From what I could see, it does not look good, because when you get injured in the moment of a full sprint, it is not a good sign. Although it is still too early to say something definite about it, because we need one or two days to analyse the situation, and then we will know what will happen next. From my point of view, it does not look good.
– Did you see the club action in honour of the fans killed in the war? Did it influence the result? (UA-Football)
– To be honest, I did not see any actions, because I was very focused on the game, I do not know which action you mean exactly. I do not know, I did not see that. If that is the case, then of course it is always very sad when someone loses their life. We have been living in this situation for a very long time, especially the club employees and supporters of Shakhtar Donetsk, and I think that a lot of people lost their lives – this is a great grief, of course. And we always feel for our supporters a lot, we feel for the people who die during this terrible war. Some of our staff and players have also lost family members. It is always a terrible situation, a terrible moment. So, my condolences…
– Now there is hope for advancing to the play-offs. So, how to beat Borussia Dortmund in their fantastic stadium? (terrikon.com)
– I am very glad that we created this chance to play this final game, which is very good. In this competition, it is very difficult to predict how many points you will need to go further. Maybe even ten points is not enough. So, if you look at other results, it will be tough. But anyway, we will play to win, as we always do. And we will go for it. You never know, because this is football, so anything is possible. But it is difficult to predict, because other results always have an impact. And at the beginning of this campaign there were some calculations that eight points would be enough to go through, but looking at the results, even ten will probably not be enough. Let’s see.
– Now club sold Sikan, Eguinaldo is injured, Traore is the only one left. Tell us, what other options are there in the attack? (terrikon.com)
– There are always options. The situation is not perfect in terms of this right now, that is clear, but there are always options. And this is my task: if there is no 100% substitution, we chose one to create something different in this position. We are working on it and we will see. I have some ideas on how to solve this situation, and I am confident in the players whom I can put in this position, I am sure that they will fulfill this task as well. Not perfect, but it is what it is.
I also want to thank FC Schalke 04 and the German people for their hospitality and warm welcome. We felt really welcomed here. So, one more time: thanks from all of us!