Both the Conference League and the Ukrainian Premier League are important
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
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Shakhtar defender Valerii Bondar answered journalists’ questions during the press conference ahead of the match against AZ Alkmaar
– Valerii, we all learned the sad news about Mircea Lucescu yesterday evening. How does it feel within the team?
– First of all, I would like to say that this is a very great loss for the entire football community, especially for Shakhtar Donetsk, because this coach spent many years at our club, and I believe that it was Mister Lucescu who did so much for where our team are now. The level of attention Shakhtar are receiving today is, in essence, thanks to Mister Lucescu, as the team have achieved many victories following his arrival – both impressive and important ones. Overall, I think Ukrainian football grew and new Shakhtar supporters appeared. When I was a little boy in Donetsk, it was under his guidance that Shakhtar’s matches inspired me and brought me great joy, and I really enjoyed what I saw on the pitch whenever I was at the stadium. Therefore, this is a great loss for all Ukrainian football, for world football and for Shakhtar. My sincere condolences to Mister Lucescu’s family. Our entire team and our club stand with his family. Rest in peace, Mircea…
– How do long journeys for European matches affect the team? How difficult is it for you?
– We have been dealing with this for quite a few years now and, as the coach said, we accept the challenge. Long distances, crossing the border, travelling by bus for around 12 hours – of course, it is very difficult, but that will not be an excuse for us. We prepare with maximum focus and full concentration for every match and take to the pitch with one goal – to win. We have the next match against AZ Alkmaar, so we have been preparing for it carefully. I think there will also be an analysis, where we will look in more detail at how we will act tomorrow and what we need to achieve victory.
– Right now Shakhtar are competing for the UPL title and are actively involved in the Conference League. How difficult is it to switch from one competition to another, considering that it is important for Shakhtar to win two trophies by the end of the season, which would be highly desirable for the team?
– I believe that a team like Shakhtar, whether in the Conference League, the Ukrainian Premier League or the Ukrainian Cup, always have the highest ambitions and the ultimate objective – to win every competition. This is a European competition, the Conference League quarter-finals, so of course we are approaching the match very seriously. As a single fixture, it is very important for us, as is every next one. As for what is more important for us, both the Conference League and the Ukrainian Premier League are important. Here we play and show that football in Ukraine is alive, that football, even despite the very difficult conditions we are in, has the right to grow. And it is these matches in Europe that allow us to show where we stand as a club and as a country. At the same time, victories in the championship allow us to play in competitions such as the Conference League, the Europa League and the Champions League. Therefore, every individual match is very important for us.
– Is Irish forward Troy Parrott, who has been highly prolific in European competitions, the main threat for Shakhtar’s defenders?
– I do not want to single out one player from the team. We view all opponents as teams. Of course, every team have individual players who can produce results, but I think we will focus on AZ Alkmaar as a whole and on how they operate collectively. However, my job as a defender is, of course, to study how this striker plays, how different players operate in that area and how to counter them. So, if this player influences the match and the flow of the game, then of course we need to pay more attention both to him individually and to AZ Alkmaar as a whole.
– First of all, I would like to say that this is a very great loss for the entire football community, especially for Shakhtar Donetsk, because this coach spent many years at our club, and I believe that it was Mister Lucescu who did so much for where our team are now. The level of attention Shakhtar are receiving today is, in essence, thanks to Mister Lucescu, as the team have achieved many victories following his arrival – both impressive and important ones. Overall, I think Ukrainian football grew and new Shakhtar supporters appeared. When I was a little boy in Donetsk, it was under his guidance that Shakhtar’s matches inspired me and brought me great joy, and I really enjoyed what I saw on the pitch whenever I was at the stadium. Therefore, this is a great loss for all Ukrainian football, for world football and for Shakhtar. My sincere condolences to Mister Lucescu’s family. Our entire team and our club stand with his family. Rest in peace, Mircea…
– How do long journeys for European matches affect the team? How difficult is it for you?
– We have been dealing with this for quite a few years now and, as the coach said, we accept the challenge. Long distances, crossing the border, travelling by bus for around 12 hours – of course, it is very difficult, but that will not be an excuse for us. We prepare with maximum focus and full concentration for every match and take to the pitch with one goal – to win. We have the next match against AZ Alkmaar, so we have been preparing for it carefully. I think there will also be an analysis, where we will look in more detail at how we will act tomorrow and what we need to achieve victory.
– Right now Shakhtar are competing for the UPL title and are actively involved in the Conference League. How difficult is it to switch from one competition to another, considering that it is important for Shakhtar to win two trophies by the end of the season, which would be highly desirable for the team?
– I believe that a team like Shakhtar, whether in the Conference League, the Ukrainian Premier League or the Ukrainian Cup, always have the highest ambitions and the ultimate objective – to win every competition. This is a European competition, the Conference League quarter-finals, so of course we are approaching the match very seriously. As a single fixture, it is very important for us, as is every next one. As for what is more important for us, both the Conference League and the Ukrainian Premier League are important. Here we play and show that football in Ukraine is alive, that football, even despite the very difficult conditions we are in, has the right to grow. And it is these matches in Europe that allow us to show where we stand as a club and as a country. At the same time, victories in the championship allow us to play in competitions such as the Conference League, the Europa League and the Champions League. Therefore, every individual match is very important for us.
– Is Irish forward Troy Parrott, who has been highly prolific in European competitions, the main threat for Shakhtar’s defenders?
– I do not want to single out one player from the team. We view all opponents as teams. Of course, every team have individual players who can produce results, but I think we will focus on AZ Alkmaar as a whole and on how they operate collectively. However, my job as a defender is, of course, to study how this striker plays, how different players operate in that area and how to counter them. So, if this player influences the match and the flow of the game, then of course we need to pay more attention both to him individually and to AZ Alkmaar as a whole.