Igor Jovicevic: We build new Shakhtar and enjoy it

Shakhtar head coach Igor Jovicevic spoke about the victory over Rukh (1-0) in the 3rd round of Ukrainian championship.

– How can you assess the match?
– Tactical plan anticipated set attack and low block with opponent’s counter-attacks. Squad of the Lviv-based team confirmed the plan even before the match: Prytula came on instead of Talles. This means clear play based on counter-attacks. This may be inconvenient on the field for the team being built, making specific new mechanisms: Rukh executed few counter-attacks, but after our mistakes. In general, we were on their half of the field looking for gaps in defence, trying to switch accurately. We lacked more deliveries to score in the second, not in the first wave. And the thing we did when scoring is the same that I have talked about during the break. When you play in minority, you need three or four passes in the centre to take the flank positions and deliver, then you score in the second wave, if you did not do it in the first one. I think we deserved this win, although game was difficult and refereeing was unclear, as for me. Very unclear. And this is not the first time. I don’t know circumstances, but I think that everyone must analyse: I will analyse my game to make us better and more efficient in the next matches, but I would like to see that the refereeing committee also analyses own work.

– Today the team scored in the second half, like in the game vs Kryvbas? Why does it take so long to score?
– We are working on it. Of course, we want to score the first goal earlier in such matches, where you can see the game plan at once, when the opponent uses low block and acts from defence to destroy your attacking actions. But it is not so easy. Sometimes even Manchester City and PSG have problems finishing the match with 0-0. I think that we will have more players in winger positions after some time, like Shved and Zubkov, who will gain their form. They are the wingers who can decide in the matches through one-on-one play to ease the situation for us. If we take into account game scheme and model that we offer, it is very important. Also Traore will get back to his best. He can play for us with his back to goal, hold up the ball, pass to the third number. So there are footballers who do not have an optimum form and we have to gain it through the games. I am sure we will do it, we will build a good team. Emotions that they show on the field and on the bench motivate me. So I am very happy not only because of 3 points, but because of the team victory as well. We built a team and enjoy it.

– Did you expect that Rukh will play from defence having a numerical advantage?
– They could not play in set attack as quality of their squad allowing us to lead even in minority. This is how it is. And this question is more for Rukh coach, but my plan did not changed throughout the game. Some circumstances may change, some obstacles may appear, but my goal is unchangeable, to control the game. But you can control it with or without the ball. We formed such structure in minority, consciously kept the left flak empty to confuse them a little: there was only Konoplia, and Sudakov played a little as attacker, and the opponent had no reference point. We made them move to the right side, through which, as a result, the goal was scored, when Bondar delivered to Konoplia. So we managed to follow the plan well, but our goal did not change. Only victory. It is difficult just to win and it is harder to win in a row and demonstrate good football. And we are working on it.

– You played as a footballer at this stadium, worked as a coach. What do you feel when coming on the field?
– I felt at home. Once I have entered the stadium, I was overcome with emotion, I looked at the stands, 16th section. These are memories that no one can take from me. I can work as a professional in other clubs, but no one can take from me what I felt here.

– When match was over you gathered in the field centre together with the team and shouted: “Who we are? We are Shakhtar!” Can we say that this will become a tradition?
– The crew is very important. It is important for team to be ambitious, hungry. Only three or four footballers have won the championship here, all other players did not become champions. We are hungry. And after the period, when Shakhtar made own status with Brazilian team, we now have such opportunity for all Ukrainian guys in such difficult war time in Ukraine. Yes, they have no experience, but they can show an excellent game during one time. But everyone asks me why cannot we play two times? They are gaining experience now. And I am that kind of a coach allowing making mistakes. Firstly, because I make mistakes myself. Secondly, I have experience of working with young players and I know what they can be. But the older ones balance the situation. And I like Pyatov’s, Shevchenko’s behaviour on the bench, Stepanenko’s behaviour on the field. It was a difficult game where Rukh had the chance to win. We won three points here, but again, we also won the team.

– How can you rate playing of newcomers, Petriak, Zubkov and Shved?
– Of course, they will step it up every day. None of them has the optimum form. We have such situation that all negotiations were after the periods when they did not play. Or when they were injured, like Zubkov, who did not train with Ferencvarosi for one or one and a half months. Then Marian Shved, who did not understand our game model and position, he did not play during the last 10 days. This was the situation. Traore, as you all know, did not play for a year. Although he is an important player for us, but we cannot use him at once after a year with injury. So, basically, we are now having a training camp. Because these footballers did not participate in the training camp in the Netherlands or Slovenia. And now we have a training camp with available strengthening. We will have better chemistry with time, however, they have a mentality, and I like it as a coach, because it is easy to work with them. We will step it up and soon will become better, will dominate more and increase our conversion rate.

– First Champions League game vs RB Leipzig will take place soon. What expectations do you have?
– This is a big challenge for us. We have no experience in playing in the Champions League. And we will do our best to win this match. We know that they have better budget and finances: only Nkunku costs like all our team. But everything is possible in football. There are 90 minutes and they have to prove that they are the best players of the day. Emotions are important in football. We will enjoy, fight for Shakhtar, hope and do our best to win.