It’s not over yet
Friday, May 1, 2026
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Shakhtar midfielder Oleh Ocheretko spoke to MEGOGO about the defeat to Crystal Palace in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League semi-finals
– Crystal Palace are a Premier League team and you emphasised that there was a strong desire to prove that you can compete at this level against them. Did it feel like this match, in terms of intensity, physical battle and pace, was something more than just a UEFA Conference League match?
– I can say that we showed a good performance and our style of football. It was just those small details that decided it, where we needed to be more focused in certain moments, and I think that such chances might not have come to the opponents.
– Regarding the corner and the goal scored: was it a rehearsed set piece? After the goal, there were noticeable attempts to deliver crosses to the near post for headed knockdowns.
– Yes, it was rehearsed. Before the match we worked on set pieces and analysed the opponents: how they defend and what weak areas they have.
– Regarding the early goal conceded: what were the emotions after Sarr found the net?
– Nothing special. We carried on despite the conceded goal, stayed focused solely on our own play.
– A more philosophical question: is it still not over or will a 1-3 away result be very difficult to overturn?
– It’s not over yet.
– I can say that we showed a good performance and our style of football. It was just those small details that decided it, where we needed to be more focused in certain moments, and I think that such chances might not have come to the opponents.
– Regarding the corner and the goal scored: was it a rehearsed set piece? After the goal, there were noticeable attempts to deliver crosses to the near post for headed knockdowns.
– Yes, it was rehearsed. Before the match we worked on set pieces and analysed the opponents: how they defend and what weak areas they have.
– Regarding the early goal conceded: what were the emotions after Sarr found the net?
– Nothing special. We carried on despite the conceded goal, stayed focused solely on our own play.
– A more philosophical question: is it still not over or will a 1-3 away result be very difficult to overturn?
– It’s not over yet.