Shakhtar midfielder Artem Bondarenko spoke about Darijo Srna’s first training sessions and preparations for the game against LNZ.

– Artem, the team has been coached by Darijo Srna for several days now. What did he add to the training process and what is the overall atmosphere in the team?
– The atmosphere, to put it in one word, is excellent. Darijo, as he said, added positivity, lightness, freedom. The team trains in a good mood and is very motivated.

– How exactly does this lightness help?
– The players are more relaxed, probably more so, when you have such good communication with the coach, you feel more confident, and this only helps on the pitch.

– Despite this ease, Darijo has demands. Which ones?
- Yes, we know, and Darijo himself has spoken about them more than once: playing “miner’s football” through quick combinations and ball possession - all in our best style.

– Recently in an interview you said that it was Darijo Srna who at one time was and remains an example and icon for you. What is it like to train under his leadership?
- Cool! As a child, I probably couldn’t even dream of this, but now you enjoy it and go to every training session incredibly happy and looking forward to the lesson.

– The match against LNZ is ahead. Your partners say that this opponent is inconvenient, what do you think?
– I would even say more: in the Ukrainian Championship all the opponents are inconvenient. This is a Cherkassy team, and I’m from there, so it will be interesting for me to play against them. We expect a very difficult confrontation. We understand that everyone comes out mega-motivated at the match against Shakhtar, so we shouldn’t give in to our opponents in this regard. Everything is in our hands.

The match between Shakhtar and LNZ will take place today at 17:00.