Pusic: It was an unbelievable experience for the last three days

Press conference of head coach of Shakhtar Marino Pusic after the match against Barcelona.

– Congratulations on your first game with Shakhtar in the Champions League. How did it go for you? Because, as far as we know, this is only your second day at the club.
– It was an unbelievable experience for the last three days, of course: changing one amazing club, Feyenoord, to another amazing club, Shakhtar, and having only one training session and several meetings with the team to prepare them for this game. And as you know, it is not an easy match when you play against Barcelona away. Everything was hectic during these days. One colleague said to me, “Marino, I have known you for one day but I have the feeling I have known you for three years.” It was intense, but I am grateful to everyone at Shakhtar for the warm welcome and support during the last two days.

– You made only three substitutions. Why did you limit yourself?
– It is not about changing the numbers. If I make a substitution, I want to see something different in the game, to change the rhythm, maybe, or to surprise the opponent. And sometimes you have to deal with fatigue in some players who worked unbelievably hard tonight. I saw the team playing pretty good football, so in this case I did not have a reason to make substitutions.

– I understand that you have only been in the team for a few days, but I want to ask about Matviienko’s performance. Is he injured or not in a good shape?
– Do you think he was not good?

– Even Taras Stepanenko had some comments for him during the game.
– Look, you have to realise one thing: there are also significant changes for the team, a lot of emotions. All of a sudden, there is a new coach in front of them. They had three coaches in the last couple of days. It means a lot to the players. Everyone always thinks that you just have to show up and play football, but they are people too, they have emotions. I can say one thing: I never talk about individual players but I am tremendously proud of all my players tonight. These guys showed up to compete with Barcelona, one of the best teams in Europe in terms of performance and quality they have. Was your question about Matviienko? I am proud of him too.

– I spoke with captain Stepanenko. He said that you asked them to play with courage, to be ambitious. Are you satisfied with the team?
– Yes, absolutely. Actually, they did everything I asked from them. Of course, there are moments in the game when you have to struggle against Barcelona, but even with this suffering, they showed character: they worked pretty hard, they were organised and disciplined, they supported each other. It is very difficult to respond to such high pressing and intensity from the opponent when you are in possession. We changed some things at half-time, although, the team also did well in the first half. If we can change something during the game against this opponent, we have potential and character. And that is what I am most satisfied with.

– What can Ukrainian fans of Shakhtar expect from your style of football, that you want to bring to the club? We saw some initial things: build-up from the back, some good quick combinations, attacking down the wings. Can you summarise how you want to see the team play?
– You have already mentioned several things which I find very important. It is a part of my vision. First of all, Shakhtar is a big club in Ukraine. When you have a big club, you have to try to be dominant in some things, maybe in all things. It is dominance both without the ball and with the ball. I love football, and when I watch it, I want to enjoy it. I also want to enjoy the game of my team when I watch it on the field. That is why I want to see a lot of movement, high pressing, courage, which we showed tonight. This is what we are going to develop in the near future. That is it. I want to see good football.

– It was a special evening for Dmytro Chyhrynskyi, because Barcelona is his former club. He did not play now. How do you see him in the line-up?
– It is a very good question, thank you. I was very happy for him, that he was here with us, could meet people he used to play with or work with. He was smiling and it was nice to see. He is an experienced, intelligent guy with a great character. This also applies to other players his age in our squad: they support and help the young players, and also guide them in their own way. It is also the role I ask them to play, and they do it excellently.