We want to repeat the success of the first match and win
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
|
Shakhtar midfielder Alisson answered journalists’ questions during the press conference ahead of the return leg against AZ Alkmaar
– What are your expectations for tomorrow’s clash? In the first game, AZ Alkmaar suffered a heavy defeat, but are you expecting any surprises from the opponents?
– Without a doubt, we are in for an extremely difficult encounter despite the comfortable advantage we gained in the first leg. Above all, we aim to build on the success of the first match and improve upon it tomorrow. Our goal is to approach every game with the maximum desire to achieve a result. So, despite this advantage, we will not be influenced by the score; instead, we will try to play our own football.
– How do you feel after the match against LNZ?
– Thank you, I feel very good and confident in my abilities. I’m also confident in the team’s readiness and that we will be able to show the style of play our head coach wants to see on the pitch tomorrow.
– Does the first-leg result put pressure on you?
– No, we do not feel any pressure. I’m convinced that we are ready to demonstrate our quality on the pitch tomorrow and to repeat the result from the first match – I mean our victory. As I said, we have great respect for the opponents and we are sure that tomorrow’s clash will be extremely difficult, but we are equally confident in our ability to perform at a high level. So I would not say that there is any particular pressure on us.
– You scored a brace in the first match and essentially became the main hero of the game. Did the team congratulate you in any special way? And, given the brace, do you expect the opposition players to pay special attention to you tomorrow, and are you ready for that?
– Yes, they congratulated me and said a lot of kind words. We are a very close-knit group and always try to be together. I can assure you that every teammate is happy when someone scores or provides an assist. I’m also one of those who is happy when my teammates perform well. As for the second part of your question, of course, something like that can be expected, but I would not say it is a surprise because I’m ready to show what I’m capable of. Generally speaking, I’m fully confident in the individual quality of all the performers we have in our attacking line. So if I perhaps cannot make the same impact in the next game as I did in the previous one, I’m convinced my teammates will be able to step up and cover for me.
– Over the past week, after the match, many global media outlets and social networks have noted that the current Brazilians at Shakhtar are almost a return to the early 2010s. What is it like to be a Brazilian at today’s Shakhtar?
– I’m extremely happy to be part of such a great club as Shakhtar Donetsk, and the moment we are currently experiencing also brings me great joy. I sincerely hope that we will be able to maintain this over the course of the whole season. The presence of a large number of Brazilians makes the process of adaptation and integration into the team much easier. Each of us has our own goal, and everyone is aiming to make a significant contribution to Shakhtar’s history and to write their name into the history of such a great club.
– Shakhtar have an unpleasant experience, such as in the match against Lech, when the team had a lead but ultimately conceded several goals in the second leg. Is there any fear that a similar scenario could happen again?
– No, I would not say there is any fear; we are confident in our own abilities. Of course, the lesson from Lech was very valuable for us, and we must draw the maximum conclusions from it. We have a system built by the coaching staff, which we follow, and I am convinced of its effectiveness. The results are gradually coming and I have no doubt they will only increase. Each time we step onto the pitch, we are focused and committed to our task, and as I said before, our objective is not just to reach the next round – we want to repeat the success of the previous match a week ago and secure a victory tomorrow.
– Without a doubt, we are in for an extremely difficult encounter despite the comfortable advantage we gained in the first leg. Above all, we aim to build on the success of the first match and improve upon it tomorrow. Our goal is to approach every game with the maximum desire to achieve a result. So, despite this advantage, we will not be influenced by the score; instead, we will try to play our own football.
– How do you feel after the match against LNZ?
– Thank you, I feel very good and confident in my abilities. I’m also confident in the team’s readiness and that we will be able to show the style of play our head coach wants to see on the pitch tomorrow.
– Does the first-leg result put pressure on you?
– No, we do not feel any pressure. I’m convinced that we are ready to demonstrate our quality on the pitch tomorrow and to repeat the result from the first match – I mean our victory. As I said, we have great respect for the opponents and we are sure that tomorrow’s clash will be extremely difficult, but we are equally confident in our ability to perform at a high level. So I would not say that there is any particular pressure on us.
– You scored a brace in the first match and essentially became the main hero of the game. Did the team congratulate you in any special way? And, given the brace, do you expect the opposition players to pay special attention to you tomorrow, and are you ready for that?
– Yes, they congratulated me and said a lot of kind words. We are a very close-knit group and always try to be together. I can assure you that every teammate is happy when someone scores or provides an assist. I’m also one of those who is happy when my teammates perform well. As for the second part of your question, of course, something like that can be expected, but I would not say it is a surprise because I’m ready to show what I’m capable of. Generally speaking, I’m fully confident in the individual quality of all the performers we have in our attacking line. So if I perhaps cannot make the same impact in the next game as I did in the previous one, I’m convinced my teammates will be able to step up and cover for me.
– Over the past week, after the match, many global media outlets and social networks have noted that the current Brazilians at Shakhtar are almost a return to the early 2010s. What is it like to be a Brazilian at today’s Shakhtar?
– I’m extremely happy to be part of such a great club as Shakhtar Donetsk, and the moment we are currently experiencing also brings me great joy. I sincerely hope that we will be able to maintain this over the course of the whole season. The presence of a large number of Brazilians makes the process of adaptation and integration into the team much easier. Each of us has our own goal, and everyone is aiming to make a significant contribution to Shakhtar’s history and to write their name into the history of such a great club.
– Shakhtar have an unpleasant experience, such as in the match against Lech, when the team had a lead but ultimately conceded several goals in the second leg. Is there any fear that a similar scenario could happen again?
– No, I would not say there is any fear; we are confident in our own abilities. Of course, the lesson from Lech was very valuable for us, and we must draw the maximum conclusions from it. We have a system built by the coaching staff, which we follow, and I am convinced of its effectiveness. The results are gradually coming and I have no doubt they will only increase. Each time we step onto the pitch, we are focused and committed to our task, and as I said before, our objective is not just to reach the next round – we want to repeat the success of the previous match a week ago and secure a victory tomorrow.