It’s important to forge a winning mentality
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
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Shakhtar midfielder Pedrinho answered journalists’ questions at the press conference ahead of the second leg against Ilves
– Pedrinho, do you feel any complacency or has there been a certain loss of focus and motivation following the impressive win in the first match? (Shakhtar TV)
– Of course, we claimed a very confident win in the first match, but despite that, we are not losing focus and are approaching this fixture seriously, as we do with any other encounter. It’s important to forge a winning mentality in every single match, and this especially applies to achieving results over the long term. So I can assure you that we are approaching tomorrow’s game with full seriousness. The result in the upcoming fixture is important for us, so there can be no talk of complacency or underestimating the opponents.
– The team have a new head coach. What are Arda Turan’s expectations of you and how does he see your role? Have you spoken to him about it? (football24.ua)
– That’s a fair point. This season, I’ve been playing in a more familiar position for me under the new coaching staff, as a midfielder. We’ve also discussed this with the Mister, and I can see how much effort he’s putting into integrating me into his system specifically as a player in central midfield. I believe this idea has great potential. I always try to seize my chance and make the most of the opportunities I get, both in training and in matches. So we keep working hard.
– You are currently one of the Brazilian leaders in the team. What kind of responsibility do you take on in European matches? (Shakhtar TV)
– Yes, as one of the more senior Brazilians within the team, I always try to take on the role of a leader who can guide the younger players and occasionally remind them of the importance of staying focused, since the style of play that the Mister promotes demands high levels of concentration, without exaggeration, from the first to the final whistle. That’s why it’s important not to lose focus during the game, which young players can sometimes be prone to, and I try to support them with some guidance and share my own experience. For me, it’s a welcome responsibility that I’m happy to share with my compatriots.
– A question about the pitch – it’s an artificial surface here. Could that cause any difficulties for the team in tomorrow’s match? (ua.tribuna.com)
– It’s true that we don’t have much experience playing on this type of pitch. But I believe that can’t be an excuse in any case: if we are a team aiming solely for the highest results and achievements, then of course we will rely on our level, which is quite high. Despite the potential difficulties that may arise during the match itself, I’m confident that it won’t affect our commitment or our desire to show our best football.
– Of course, we claimed a very confident win in the first match, but despite that, we are not losing focus and are approaching this fixture seriously, as we do with any other encounter. It’s important to forge a winning mentality in every single match, and this especially applies to achieving results over the long term. So I can assure you that we are approaching tomorrow’s game with full seriousness. The result in the upcoming fixture is important for us, so there can be no talk of complacency or underestimating the opponents.
– The team have a new head coach. What are Arda Turan’s expectations of you and how does he see your role? Have you spoken to him about it? (football24.ua)
– That’s a fair point. This season, I’ve been playing in a more familiar position for me under the new coaching staff, as a midfielder. We’ve also discussed this with the Mister, and I can see how much effort he’s putting into integrating me into his system specifically as a player in central midfield. I believe this idea has great potential. I always try to seize my chance and make the most of the opportunities I get, both in training and in matches. So we keep working hard.
– You are currently one of the Brazilian leaders in the team. What kind of responsibility do you take on in European matches? (Shakhtar TV)
– Yes, as one of the more senior Brazilians within the team, I always try to take on the role of a leader who can guide the younger players and occasionally remind them of the importance of staying focused, since the style of play that the Mister promotes demands high levels of concentration, without exaggeration, from the first to the final whistle. That’s why it’s important not to lose focus during the game, which young players can sometimes be prone to, and I try to support them with some guidance and share my own experience. For me, it’s a welcome responsibility that I’m happy to share with my compatriots.
– A question about the pitch – it’s an artificial surface here. Could that cause any difficulties for the team in tomorrow’s match? (ua.tribuna.com)
– It’s true that we don’t have much experience playing on this type of pitch. But I believe that can’t be an excuse in any case: if we are a team aiming solely for the highest results and achievements, then of course we will rely on our level, which is quite high. Despite the potential difficulties that may arise during the match itself, I’m confident that it won’t affect our commitment or our desire to show our best football.