Mircea Lucescu: “ I’d like to look at anyone who didn’t see the penalty”

29-08-09 02:27:15

Head coach of Shakhtar Mircea Lucescu after the match for UEFA Super Cup between Shakhtar and Barcelona summed up the match and answered the questions of journalists.

- We’ve prepared well for the game. In this match met the teams which deserved to fight for UEFA Super Cup. Unfortunately we had to play in unbelievable conditions. Firstly it was very hot, secondly the field was not of good quality.

The teams played as gentlemen, on such field there could be a lot of injuries, but footballers acted respectfully. Of course, we knew Barcelona’s play and based our actions on counterattacks. We understood that we would have moments and would be able to create them. Such moments appeared when our footballers played face-to-face with the goalkeeper of Barcelona. And unfortunately at the end of every time referee whistled when our team was counterattacking. It proved again that in the matches with great clubs referees are on their side. I can say that referee has influenced the result as in one of the moments there was a hundred-per-cent penalty. Everybody said this including Guardiola and Platini.

Knowing the rival’s play, as a lot of highly skilled players are in it’s staff, we consciously acted from the defence, tried to block all zones where they built their attacks. In each zone our players insured each other. The task was to counterattack or attack as soon as the ball was our - the rival was open and we had to use it. Not always we managed to do it because of the field state and because not always we found correct decisions. Sometimes we lost balls when we could counterattack well and prospectively.

- What can you say in general about Barcelona’s play today? You’ve made more difficulties to Catalans than any team.
- You see, I wonder why Spanish coaches don’t examine well this team’s play. We have analysed the matches between Barcelona and Atletico when they won 2:1 and 3:0 but could score 10 goals. Our players fulfilled all tasks they had. Though, when they got tired they began to be late. I want to congratulate our footballers. Also I’d like to mark Vasyl Kobin who made his debute on such level. I think we deserved more than we got at the end of the game. If referee was correct he would assign a penalty.

- Mister, are you sure that there was a penalty in that moment?
- I’d like to look at anyone of you who didn’t see the penalty.

FC Shakhtar
Press Office