Mircea Lucescu: Goal awakened us

14-03-10 19:43:21

The reporters could hear the opinion of Mircea Lucescu, the head coach for Shakhtar, about the final round of Ukrainian championship during the traditional post-match conference.

- The game was hard and challenging. I am completely dissatisfied with the first half. I had to wait for the halftime to talk to the players and change some things. Today we have won three very important points that will hopefully help us to qualify for the Champions’ League. Therefore our attention will be fully devoted to the struggle for the championship. Today we clashed with a very strong team with a well organized strategy. But here again I need to mention that we created no dangerous moments for our rivals during the first half. Both Jadson and Ilsinho didn’t play to their fullest. The second half was played in a different way. Douglas and Fomin refreshed the game appearing on the pitch, a couple of supporting defenders, Fernandinho and Lewandowski, were fairly good. The Kharkiv team scored a goal on us which we could have saved. Maybe it was that goal that awakened us and after that we started playing in a new way.

- Regardless of all the drawbacks, say, did you like the game?
- Of course I liked the game as such, liked its tension, its pace. I was talking only about my team before. And as for the supporters, they enjoyed the show. All of this heat from the very beginning to the end, intensity on both sides. I don’t think that an aggressive and speedy match like this one can leave anyone dissatisfied. Maybe there weren’t a lot of hundred-per-cent goalscoring opportunities. But I would like to highlight the tension itself. I would also like to direct your attention to the refereeing which was good today, I don’t have any major complaints.

- This has been the third consecutive game where you replaced a midfielder. This means that Rakytskyy always has a new partner. How can you explain that?
- All the three of them are on the same level and I would not like their level to be reduced. That’s why I give them the opportunity to play. As for Chizhov, he was injured in the last game he played. He does not train with the rest of the team. Kucher was injured in the clash with Metalurh, Donetsk and had not joined the team trainings until this Thursday. Therefore it is understandable that today we let Ishchenko onto the pitch. These substitutes can be explained. And in this case I had to make them.

- You called Fernandinho the best player of the game. Wouldn’t you also like to say some nice things about the way Marius played? He was a positive surprise today.
- Yes, of course I would. Marius was playing really well today. It goes without saying that I analyze the opponent’s game as well as the condition of my players before each game. And I choose lineups according to the result of my analysis. Everyone is doing his best at the training routine, I see to that personally during the week. In point of fact, the training process is more important than the game. Therefore it is impossible to be bad at the training ground and be good on the pitch, and vice versa. Thus, Marius was doing great during the week’s trainings and that is how he ended up appearing on today’s lineup. Reporters tend to distinguish between starting players and subs, whereas for me they are all important, and they are ready to enter the pitch at any moment. The players must feel that I trust them, and they keep themselves well toned all the time, and are always ready to help.

- The president of Dynamo, Kyiv mentioned yesterday that the national champion is known long before the championship finals. What do you think about it?
- It is still too early to say something while we still have enough of games to play before the end of the championship. I can distinguish this championship since other teams are moving to a new footing and are competing for places in Europa League, and therefore one can expect any surprises and results on their side. And this group of teams is rather large.
According to the already established tradition, after the press-conference with the Shakhtar head coach was over the most active reporter was chosen. This time it was Vadym Krasnov, Gorod newspaper columnist, who walked away with a memorabilia badge.

FC Shakhtar
Press Office