EnglishShakhtar will fight in both tournaments, will compete until the end
Saturday, March 29, 2025
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Press conference of Shakhtar head coach Marino Pusic after the UPL match against Obolon (2-0)
– Marlon Gomes led the team to the match with the captain’s armband. What was the reason for this decision, since both Bondar and Sudakov were on the field? (football.ua)
– I decided so. It is very simple. Actually, our captain is Matviienko, but we have other captains in the team, and Marlon is one of them. I know that there is Sudakov, there is Bondar, they had the honour of being captains, but this time I wanted to see how Marlon would react and what kind of influence he could have. So sometimes we make changes, choosing among other players, which is very good for their development, I think. It is not his first time being captain, because he was the captain of the Brazil national under-20 team. But, like I said, sometimes the responsibility falls on different players, and today I chose him.
– As for Matviienko: what happened to him, why was he not even in the squad list? (football.ua)
– He is suspended, four cards. That is why he did not play.
– Are you satisfied with Shakhtar’s defence without Mykola Matviienko? (Chystyi futbol podcast)
– I think the guys who played behind, Alaa Ghram in this case, did a really good job, were stable, but Mykola is the regular player for me. We will see how to resolve that when he comes back next Wednesday, but normally Matviienko is the regular player for me. But I have to say that the guy who replaced him today, Alaa Ghram, did a very good job for the team as well. I was very happy to see that he is also able to compete and stay stable for 95 minutes.
– Anton Hlushchenko scored his debut goal today. How would you rate his performance? (football.ua)
– I am very happy that Anton scored the goal. He deserves it, actually, he has been working really hard lately. I am also happy with our decision not to loan him out during the winter break: I think that the fact that he stayed with us is good for his development – training at this level and with this intensity. And he has improved a lot. He is a young, talented player. As you all know, I like young, talented players: if there is a place and they deserve it, they will get a chance from me. He is one of them. So he did very well, and I am very happy that he scored the goal. I can tell you that the whole dressing room was very happy for him right now. And the goal was not a coincidence, it was really the part of his development – the way he acted, the way he entered the game. I think he did a great job. So I can tell him: well done and keep developing! And I also have to add that we have another attacking midfielder, a very talented guy, whom I let to make his debut last season and he had a good pre-season – that is Tsukanov. So we are talking about Anton and Viktor, two young talented footballers and performers with good prospects. I think they will have a good future at the club.
– Your next game is a cup game against Oleksandriia. Would you rather defeat Oleksandria or win all the league matches until the end of the season? Which would be more important? (5 Kanal)
– As Shakhtar, the double winner of the last season, we will try to fight in both tournaments, will compete until the end. This is our obligation, this is who we are and who I am. So do not expect the third team to play against Oleksandriia, if that is what you mean. We will always show up in the best shape, and I can tell you that we have not only 11, but 20 players in the squad. As you saw today, Ghram showed a fantastic game as well, without playing much, Hlushchenko came on and was decisive, Eguinaldo was there – we have a lot of options in this aspect. So we will definitely give 100 percent, because we will also try to win the Cup, of course.
– I decided so. It is very simple. Actually, our captain is Matviienko, but we have other captains in the team, and Marlon is one of them. I know that there is Sudakov, there is Bondar, they had the honour of being captains, but this time I wanted to see how Marlon would react and what kind of influence he could have. So sometimes we make changes, choosing among other players, which is very good for their development, I think. It is not his first time being captain, because he was the captain of the Brazil national under-20 team. But, like I said, sometimes the responsibility falls on different players, and today I chose him.
– As for Matviienko: what happened to him, why was he not even in the squad list? (football.ua)
– He is suspended, four cards. That is why he did not play.
– Are you satisfied with Shakhtar’s defence without Mykola Matviienko? (Chystyi futbol podcast)
– I think the guys who played behind, Alaa Ghram in this case, did a really good job, were stable, but Mykola is the regular player for me. We will see how to resolve that when he comes back next Wednesday, but normally Matviienko is the regular player for me. But I have to say that the guy who replaced him today, Alaa Ghram, did a very good job for the team as well. I was very happy to see that he is also able to compete and stay stable for 95 minutes.
– Anton Hlushchenko scored his debut goal today. How would you rate his performance? (football.ua)
– I am very happy that Anton scored the goal. He deserves it, actually, he has been working really hard lately. I am also happy with our decision not to loan him out during the winter break: I think that the fact that he stayed with us is good for his development – training at this level and with this intensity. And he has improved a lot. He is a young, talented player. As you all know, I like young, talented players: if there is a place and they deserve it, they will get a chance from me. He is one of them. So he did very well, and I am very happy that he scored the goal. I can tell you that the whole dressing room was very happy for him right now. And the goal was not a coincidence, it was really the part of his development – the way he acted, the way he entered the game. I think he did a great job. So I can tell him: well done and keep developing! And I also have to add that we have another attacking midfielder, a very talented guy, whom I let to make his debut last season and he had a good pre-season – that is Tsukanov. So we are talking about Anton and Viktor, two young talented footballers and performers with good prospects. I think they will have a good future at the club.
– Your next game is a cup game against Oleksandriia. Would you rather defeat Oleksandria or win all the league matches until the end of the season? Which would be more important? (5 Kanal)
– As Shakhtar, the double winner of the last season, we will try to fight in both tournaments, will compete until the end. This is our obligation, this is who we are and who I am. So do not expect the third team to play against Oleksandriia, if that is what you mean. We will always show up in the best shape, and I can tell you that we have not only 11, but 20 players in the squad. As you saw today, Ghram showed a fantastic game as well, without playing much, Hlushchenko came on and was decisive, Eguinaldo was there – we have a lot of options in this aspect. So we will definitely give 100 percent, because we will also try to win the Cup, of course.