I understand my role and I'll always give my maximum
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
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Shakhtar defender Oleksandr Karavaiev shared his thoughts on the friendly against Slaven Belupo and spoke about the team's summer training camp
– Oleksandr, you registered your first assist and scored your first goal. Are you pleased?
– Of course I am because I always want to help the team. Even though I'm a defender, whenever needed I try to contribute in attack as well. It's disappointing that we didn't win and conceded some unfortunate goals, but we never give up. We keep fighting until the final whistle, even though we're training under heavy loads. It's a bit tough, but it's necessary.
– Can you talk us through the two moments that led to your assist and goal?
– The coach told us to build up with three defenders when we're in possession, which means that we, the full-backs, push further inside or out wide. That's how I ended up in the middle. Kaua laid the ball off perfectly for me, and I played it to Alisson. But the way Alisson finished it, it's hard to even call it an assist.
– And what about your backheel goal?
– I like taking up that position at corners. Nazaryna and I have a really good understanding. I told him where to deliver the ball, and he put in exactly the cross I wanted. About 20 seconds earlier, a defender had cleared the ball, but from the very next corner I managed to score. There wasn't much time to react – it was just one touch, and that was it.
– You said Shakhtar conceded some unfortunate goals. What do you think caused them?
– First and foremost, concentration. Both goals came from throw-ins, followed by a lay-off into the middle. We didn't see out the one-on-one situations, and the same opposition player ended up scoring twice. It's mainly about concentration because we're constantly working under heavy loads. You're trying to carry out the coach's instructions, whether it's pressing or keeping possession and sometimes you just run out of energy and can't do exactly what you need to.
– You've now been working under Arda Turan for several weeks. What are your overall impressions of the head coach and his staff? How demanding have the training sessions been for you?
– Very demanding, to be honest. I can't remember the last time the training sessions were this intense, but I can feel they're making me much stronger. You train really hard for five days, then get a day or a day and a half off, and then it's another five days of work. That's when you really start to build your strength. As for the coaching staff, what I really like is that they give every player guidance on what to do on the pitch, highlighting even the smallest details. That's exactly why the training sessions last two hours – they want to explain everything, especially to the new players, so they understand the principles of play. Everything is explained clearly. Every member of the coaching staff lives every training session and constantly encourages you. They really get you going, so you can't switch off or ease up – you're always working at full intensity. And with so much competition for places, everyone is working extremely hard, which is a huge positive.
– You're currently the oldest and most experienced player in the squad. Does that bring even more responsibility? And how do you see your role in such a young team?
– That's exactly what the coach told me: "You're an experienced player. That's what I need in this team." We've got Marlon, Mykola Matviienko, Nazaryna, and now me as well. Of course, I understand what's expected of me and what the team need from me. I know I'm 10 years older than some of the lads, and even 15 years older than others, but I don't feel that way myself. I've said it before – it's hard to adjust to thinking of yourself as an experienced or older player because you're doing exactly the same work as the younger lads and going through the same training loads. But I understand my role and I'll always give my maximum.
– Shakhtar's training camp comes to an end in a week's time. How would you assess the team's readiness for the new season?
– So far, we've gone through the first stage of the heavy workload. Now, in the second stage, we're playing regularly and building our fitness through games. So I'd say we're about 90 per cent ready physically. Now we need to build up our match sharpness and then we'll be 100 per cent ready for the season.
– Of course I am because I always want to help the team. Even though I'm a defender, whenever needed I try to contribute in attack as well. It's disappointing that we didn't win and conceded some unfortunate goals, but we never give up. We keep fighting until the final whistle, even though we're training under heavy loads. It's a bit tough, but it's necessary.
– Can you talk us through the two moments that led to your assist and goal?
– The coach told us to build up with three defenders when we're in possession, which means that we, the full-backs, push further inside or out wide. That's how I ended up in the middle. Kaua laid the ball off perfectly for me, and I played it to Alisson. But the way Alisson finished it, it's hard to even call it an assist.
– And what about your backheel goal?
– I like taking up that position at corners. Nazaryna and I have a really good understanding. I told him where to deliver the ball, and he put in exactly the cross I wanted. About 20 seconds earlier, a defender had cleared the ball, but from the very next corner I managed to score. There wasn't much time to react – it was just one touch, and that was it.
– You said Shakhtar conceded some unfortunate goals. What do you think caused them?
– First and foremost, concentration. Both goals came from throw-ins, followed by a lay-off into the middle. We didn't see out the one-on-one situations, and the same opposition player ended up scoring twice. It's mainly about concentration because we're constantly working under heavy loads. You're trying to carry out the coach's instructions, whether it's pressing or keeping possession and sometimes you just run out of energy and can't do exactly what you need to.
– You've now been working under Arda Turan for several weeks. What are your overall impressions of the head coach and his staff? How demanding have the training sessions been for you?
– Very demanding, to be honest. I can't remember the last time the training sessions were this intense, but I can feel they're making me much stronger. You train really hard for five days, then get a day or a day and a half off, and then it's another five days of work. That's when you really start to build your strength. As for the coaching staff, what I really like is that they give every player guidance on what to do on the pitch, highlighting even the smallest details. That's exactly why the training sessions last two hours – they want to explain everything, especially to the new players, so they understand the principles of play. Everything is explained clearly. Every member of the coaching staff lives every training session and constantly encourages you. They really get you going, so you can't switch off or ease up – you're always working at full intensity. And with so much competition for places, everyone is working extremely hard, which is a huge positive.
– You're currently the oldest and most experienced player in the squad. Does that bring even more responsibility? And how do you see your role in such a young team?
– That's exactly what the coach told me: "You're an experienced player. That's what I need in this team." We've got Marlon, Mykola Matviienko, Nazaryna, and now me as well. Of course, I understand what's expected of me and what the team need from me. I know I'm 10 years older than some of the lads, and even 15 years older than others, but I don't feel that way myself. I've said it before – it's hard to adjust to thinking of yourself as an experienced or older player because you're doing exactly the same work as the younger lads and going through the same training loads. But I understand my role and I'll always give my maximum.
– Shakhtar's training camp comes to an end in a week's time. How would you assess the team's readiness for the new season?
– So far, we've gone through the first stage of the heavy workload. Now, in the second stage, we're playing regularly and building our fitness through games. So I'd say we're about 90 per cent ready physically. Now we need to build up our match sharpness and then we'll be 100 per cent ready for the season.