Shakhtar's search for a new head coach continues

Shakhtar's caretaker coach Darijo Srna talks about what kind of manager the team needs.

– What should the new head coach be like and what are the main requirements for them?
– I want you to understand me correctly, we will change coaches until we find the one we need. Let it be six, seven, eight, nine, ten coaches, but I assure Shakhtar fans that we will find the one. First, every club has changes and every club has a rough patch. It would happen sooner or later. We will get through this and become stronger. But fans should know one simple thing: I promise them, and I can even say it on behalf of the president and the entire club, that Shakhtar will win trophies with beautiful and high-quality miner’s football. There will be no other option. I know the president: he likes to lose with beautiful football, but he does not like to win with ugly football. And this is the difference between our president and others.

– Over the past six months, a lot has changed at Shakhtar: coaches, style of play... What kind of football should Shakhtar play?
– Definitely not the kind we have been playing for the last two or three months. We all worked and, frankly, helped Patrick change some things, but, unfortunately, it was not going well. I am not saying that everything is his fault. No. Maybe we did not have enough luck, had injuries, the players sometimes failed to do their best, underperformed. But we need Shakhtar’s football. When I talk about Shakhtar’s football, everyone knows exactly what it means. And we will definitely have it – with a new coach, with me, without me. And I will tell you honestly, if I am the head coach, but fail to play Shakhtar’s football, then the president will tolerate it, but I do not know for how long. Shakhtar’s quality attacking football is in the first place. No matter who the coach is. If there is no such football, then we are not on the same page with the coach. Unfortunately.

– The team have many leaders and high-quality players who understand what they should do on the field and how they should act at certain moments. In this case, should the team adapt to the coach, or should the coach adapt to Shakhtar?
– Both. A coach who comes here from any team should know where he is going. He has to know that we are one family, which lives together and is ready to suffer for each other. Well, generally speaking, the coach should change. But change for the better, not for the worse, of course. And players have to adapt to a new coach. And if it coincides, then we already have a bond that is difficult to break. And when the president sees this, believe me, this coach will be the happiest person in the world. So, yes, every coach who comes to Shakhtar should change, but the team also have to adapt to the coach.