Igor Jovicevic: Today I am the happiest coach in the world

Press conference of Shakhtar head coach Igor Jovicevic after victory over RB Leipzig (4-1).

– Did you expect that the team would be so motivated and would play so good?
– I believe in the team from the first day when we started working. Maybe no one expected such a bright win, because we knew our opponent. RB Leipzig is the club with reputation being one of the top 3 teams of the German Bundesliga in relation to the budget. This is a very powerful club that, maybe, temporary has a little crisis. And we make use of it. But we completely deserved such score, because we played with our hearts. When you play with your heart for the country, for Ukraine, than you have a result like today. I am proud of the team and can say that now I am the happiest coach in the world. This is an unforgettable debut. All the guys did their best, all of them, as well as the staff and everyone who gave their energy to the team together with the fans who came to support us at the stadium. We felt them all the time. This synergy is our strength.

– Only one match was played, but is it appropriate to talk about the possibility to advance from the group?
– I cannot give you a satisfactory answer, because this match has just finished and we reorganise ourselves for the UPL, Chornomorets are waiting for us already. We have to confirm our form, mental and tactical stability. It is hard to win, but it is harder to win in a row and in such a situation that requires mental endurance from the team. We are a young team. This time we did good, but it may be different next time. That is emotional swing of the young players. And today they behaved like mature, very qualified footballers. I did not feel the age difference. And it was good. So I want to focus on Chornomorets, because the UPL is alma mater of our process. There are no such bright matches in the Champions League without success in the UPL.

– What can you say about Mykhailo Mudryk’s and Marian Shved’s playing?
– I know Sved for a long time: he made his debut in Karpaty under my management 17 years ago. Unfortunately, he was bought by Sevilla after 10 matches: Monchi came to Liviv and took him away. But I remembered him the same way he was today. And he has become more impressive and motivated. He and Mudryk are two our strengtheners. As well as Petriak, and Zubkov, who can play in these positions. Because it is a priority to have two players for each position for great club. You see, we have this and it is a luxury for me. We can use them in every match depending on our rival.

–This is your first game in the Champions League and you have such fantastic victory. Was it surprising?
– When you play only with your mind, then you consciously select your strategy, have more concentration, have better reaction, can give an advice to a player on what to do. Everything is planned. But when a player has talent and start to play with his heart, and we played today in the opening match for the country, for Ukraine, then it is a big plus for our team from mental point of view. You forget about everything during such moments, you connect with the match and just fly on the field. And they were not tired. Maybe they will be tomorrow, but today they had such an adrenaline that they are just shocked with the result. Frankly, I am happy for them, because we demonstrated what we can do. We demonstrated a level that we must maintain and not go lower. We must continue to play like this that is not always possible, because these are the young players. But I am grateful to them, I love them very much and we will continue to work and decently move from match to match. It is very important.