I would like to congratulate the team on a high-quality and prolific performance
Thursday, March 5, 2026
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Shakhtar women’s team head coach Roman Zaiev reflects on the victory over EMS-Podillia, the debut of Anastasiia Druzhchenko and the team’s ambitions
– First of all, we congratulated the team on the resumption of the championship and wished them to achieve the goals set. We prepared the girls accordingly and did a large amount of work to secure such a result. I would like to congratulate the team on a high-quality and prolific performance. Many players scored goals, and it is pleasing that the team are gaining momentum and moving forward. We hope everything will unfold in a similar way in the upcoming matches.
– Anastasiia Druzhchenko made her debut in a Shakhtar jersey and scored a brace. Can it be considered that she has successfully gone through the adaptation?
– I have known Anastasiia for a very long time and have followed her for three years. Of course, I would like to highlight her qualities: she is a quick player with a powerful shot who can find advantageous positions and strike unexpectedly. I’m very pleased that she coped with the adaptation quickly. Anastasiia was familiar with many of her teammates, and they certainly helped her settle in.
– Did the goal scored at the start of the match give the team an emotional boost?
– Yes! We emphasise that an early goal allows you to relax a little psychologically, while at the same time you must act responsibly so as not to concede in response. We focus on this and we managed to implement it in the game against EMS-Podillia. I believe the early goal really helped the team in the end.
– The final stretch of the first stage of the Ukrainian Women’s Vyshcha League will be intense as several clubs are competing for a spot in the top five. What expectations do you have?
– We discussed this with the team and are not giving up our ambitions of fighting for a spot in the top three of the league.
– Anastasiia Druzhchenko made her debut in a Shakhtar jersey and scored a brace. Can it be considered that she has successfully gone through the adaptation?
– I have known Anastasiia for a very long time and have followed her for three years. Of course, I would like to highlight her qualities: she is a quick player with a powerful shot who can find advantageous positions and strike unexpectedly. I’m very pleased that she coped with the adaptation quickly. Anastasiia was familiar with many of her teammates, and they certainly helped her settle in.
– Did the goal scored at the start of the match give the team an emotional boost?
– Yes! We emphasise that an early goal allows you to relax a little psychologically, while at the same time you must act responsibly so as not to concede in response. We focus on this and we managed to implement it in the game against EMS-Podillia. I believe the early goal really helped the team in the end.
– The final stretch of the first stage of the Ukrainian Women’s Vyshcha League will be intense as several clubs are competing for a spot in the top five. What expectations do you have?
– We discussed this with the team and are not giving up our ambitions of fighting for a spot in the top three of the league.