I am satisfied with the work of the players
Sunday, January 26, 2025
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Shakhtar youth team played against Leipzig U19 in the fourth friendly game at the training camp in Turkey
On Saturday, January 25, Shakhtar youth team held another friendly match at the training camp in Turkey against Leipzig U19. The coaching staff applied a significant squad rotation compared to the previous test game, involving mostly experienced players. Leipzig U19 scored three times in the second half, and the Miners responded with Lomaha’s penalty goal.
The Orange-and-Blacks finished the second week of the training camp with friendlies against Kisvarda II and Leipzig U19 and will have a day off, and then they will get back to training with a focus on intensity.
Shakhtar U19 Donetsk 1-3 (0-0) Leipzig U19 (Germany)
Shakhtar U19: Bahlai, Drozd, Bashmarin, Kostiuk (Kaliuzhnyi, 57′), Halonskyi, Davydenko (Smetana, 65′), Yushchenko (Buneta, 75′), Sereda (Balakai, 46′), Lomaha (Petruk, 70′), Tsukanov, Tiutiunov (Bundash, 73′)
Oleksii Bielik, head coach of Shakhtar U19:
– Good and informative matches, there is still work to do. It is necessary to understand that the result of the friendlies is not the top priority, but it is always nice to win, and you should strive for this. As for the events during the games, we lacked certain components, which we will work on in the coming weeks, including teamwork, intensity and fighting, to achieve a result. In the game against Leipzig U19, for example, we lost in duels in many episodes. We do a lot of work to create chances near the opponent’s goal, but in the final third our actions were a bit reckless and not focused enough. This prevented us from achieving the desired result, but we will work on it in the near future.
– Leipzig U19 are representatives of the German U19 championship, where Hoffenheim U19, the next opponents of Shakhtar in the UEFA Youth League, also play. Can it be considered that the friendly match against Leipzig U19 was a kind of rehearsal?
– You can somewhat say that. In the meeting with Kisvarda II more playing time was given to younger performers and those for whom this training camp is the first as part of Shakhtar U19. It was interesting to see how the young players would manage without the help of experienced players. I am satisfied with the game against Kisvarda II, but I understand that there is room for improvement. We are a team that must defeat their opponents thanks to technical superiority and established cooperation of the teammates. If there is no proper quality, problems arise. For some players, this training camp became the first experience as part of Shakhtar U19, and they work a lot. As for the meeting with Leipzig U19, this can be considered a certain stage of preparation, although the line-up is not yet final. Its formation is influenced by different factors, in particular unwanted injuries. Also, we are just starting to study the opponent and will gradually choose tactics for the match against Hoffenheim U19. If we talk about the game against Leipzig U19, we lacked quality in the final phase. However, it is necessary to consider that the championship resumes already on February 1 for Leipzig U19, so the opponent is currently in better condition.
– It is noticeable that you give playing time to as many footballers as possible. Are you satisfied with the work of the team, in particular with the newcomers, for whom this camp is the first as part of Shakhtar U19?
– I am satisfied with the work of the players. They perform a lot of tasks. Although it is difficult for them, they do not complain and work. During the training camp, we focus on the fundamental preparation that is necessary for any team that wants to show skill and play at a high level. This work is an integral part of our development. The peculiarity is that the approach is different. The junior teams of the Academy pay more attention to the technical and tactical aspects of the game, while at the U19 championship level, speed and physical qualities play a significant role. They determine the result to a certain extent, so we are actively working on their improvement.
– Share the team’s plans for the next few days. Has purposeful preparation for the meeting with Hoffenheim U19 in the UEFA Youth League already begun?
– We have one more week to work on the quality of play. Before that we did a lot of aerobic work, but now we are gradually switching to work with a higher intensity, focusing on ball work, duels and technique, which should improve the overall quality of play, especially in the final phase. There are several friendlies ahead, and we will work on improving team interaction until February 5, and after that we will begin purposeful preparation for the match against Hoffenheim U19: we will choose a tactic, practise it and do everything to implement the plan in the game.
– What football should Shakhtar U19 show?
– For us, it is very important not just to go on the field for the sake of the result, but also to draw the attention of the fans with a spectacular attacking play, mutual understanding and technique. Of course, there are situations when it is difficult, especially if the opponent does not yield in offensive actions, then we have to adapt. It is worth remembering that you can show interesting football even in the defensive play, although the attention of fans is more drawn to spectacular actions in attack. At the same time, the culture of dispossession is an equally important part of our game. Shakhtar U19 focus heavily on attacking actions, although of course not all matches are equally good. I will always prefer a game where both teams show spectacular football and score a lot of goals, but we win by scoring at least one more goal. That is better than a 1-0 win in a lacklustre game.
The Orange-and-Blacks finished the second week of the training camp with friendlies against Kisvarda II and Leipzig U19 and will have a day off, and then they will get back to training with a focus on intensity.
Shakhtar U19 Donetsk 1-3 (0-0) Leipzig U19 (Germany)
Shakhtar U19: Bahlai, Drozd, Bashmarin, Kostiuk (Kaliuzhnyi, 57′), Halonskyi, Davydenko (Smetana, 65′), Yushchenko (Buneta, 75′), Sereda (Balakai, 46′), Lomaha (Petruk, 70′), Tsukanov, Tiutiunov (Bundash, 73′)
Oleksii Bielik, head coach of Shakhtar U19:
– Good and informative matches, there is still work to do. It is necessary to understand that the result of the friendlies is not the top priority, but it is always nice to win, and you should strive for this. As for the events during the games, we lacked certain components, which we will work on in the coming weeks, including teamwork, intensity and fighting, to achieve a result. In the game against Leipzig U19, for example, we lost in duels in many episodes. We do a lot of work to create chances near the opponent’s goal, but in the final third our actions were a bit reckless and not focused enough. This prevented us from achieving the desired result, but we will work on it in the near future.
– Leipzig U19 are representatives of the German U19 championship, where Hoffenheim U19, the next opponents of Shakhtar in the UEFA Youth League, also play. Can it be considered that the friendly match against Leipzig U19 was a kind of rehearsal?
– You can somewhat say that. In the meeting with Kisvarda II more playing time was given to younger performers and those for whom this training camp is the first as part of Shakhtar U19. It was interesting to see how the young players would manage without the help of experienced players. I am satisfied with the game against Kisvarda II, but I understand that there is room for improvement. We are a team that must defeat their opponents thanks to technical superiority and established cooperation of the teammates. If there is no proper quality, problems arise. For some players, this training camp became the first experience as part of Shakhtar U19, and they work a lot. As for the meeting with Leipzig U19, this can be considered a certain stage of preparation, although the line-up is not yet final. Its formation is influenced by different factors, in particular unwanted injuries. Also, we are just starting to study the opponent and will gradually choose tactics for the match against Hoffenheim U19. If we talk about the game against Leipzig U19, we lacked quality in the final phase. However, it is necessary to consider that the championship resumes already on February 1 for Leipzig U19, so the opponent is currently in better condition.
– It is noticeable that you give playing time to as many footballers as possible. Are you satisfied with the work of the team, in particular with the newcomers, for whom this camp is the first as part of Shakhtar U19?
– I am satisfied with the work of the players. They perform a lot of tasks. Although it is difficult for them, they do not complain and work. During the training camp, we focus on the fundamental preparation that is necessary for any team that wants to show skill and play at a high level. This work is an integral part of our development. The peculiarity is that the approach is different. The junior teams of the Academy pay more attention to the technical and tactical aspects of the game, while at the U19 championship level, speed and physical qualities play a significant role. They determine the result to a certain extent, so we are actively working on their improvement.
– Share the team’s plans for the next few days. Has purposeful preparation for the meeting with Hoffenheim U19 in the UEFA Youth League already begun?
– We have one more week to work on the quality of play. Before that we did a lot of aerobic work, but now we are gradually switching to work with a higher intensity, focusing on ball work, duels and technique, which should improve the overall quality of play, especially in the final phase. There are several friendlies ahead, and we will work on improving team interaction until February 5, and after that we will begin purposeful preparation for the match against Hoffenheim U19: we will choose a tactic, practise it and do everything to implement the plan in the game.
– What football should Shakhtar U19 show?
– For us, it is very important not just to go on the field for the sake of the result, but also to draw the attention of the fans with a spectacular attacking play, mutual understanding and technique. Of course, there are situations when it is difficult, especially if the opponent does not yield in offensive actions, then we have to adapt. It is worth remembering that you can show interesting football even in the defensive play, although the attention of fans is more drawn to spectacular actions in attack. At the same time, the culture of dispossession is an equally important part of our game. Shakhtar U19 focus heavily on attacking actions, although of course not all matches are equally good. I will always prefer a game where both teams show spectacular football and score a lot of goals, but we win by scoring at least one more goal. That is better than a 1-0 win in a lacklustre game.
