Former Dynamo Kyiv striker Maxim Shatskikh spoke about his first title as a head coach, which he won in his native Pakhtakor.
Maxim Shatskikh. Photo: 1927.kiev.ua“At the moment there is no such offer that can make me leave Pakhtakor”
- Congratulations on your championship! What emotions did you experience with your first title as a head coach?
— The best and the nicest. I don't think I've fully grasped it all yet.
- Was the fight for the championship tense and lasted until the last round, when you realized that the trophy was already in your "pocket"?
- To be honest, I had confidence even before the game, in my guys. Therefore, I was calm, especially when it was already 2-0, I finally calmed down.
- According to Transfermarkt, you have a contract until 2025, is that right? What offer can force you to change the team ahead of schedule?
- Yes. At the moment there is no such thing. In my thoughts, I have to work very hard, intensely and as long as possible in Pakhtakor, and then how it will turn out. The main thing now is to fulfill the tasks that the leadership sets before us. I am completely here, my thoughts are at work, I want to stay here longer, for this I have everything here.
- Are you satisfied with everything in the team at the moment? What would you like to improve?
— Strengthening will be, we are already working on it. After the game, we celebrated a bit with the management for a day, and immediately got to work. Naturally, reinforcement is needed, since the tasks are not only in the local arena, but also in the same Champions League. Now we are dealing with all these issues, including in the local market.
We need healthy competition, as in every team, so that there are two equal players in each position, we are striving for this. There is no point in talking about specific positions now, since we have not yet dealt with ours, there are some questions with those who we had. Literally in a week we will understand who stays and who will leave.
- Now there are 5 Ukrainians in the championship of Uzbekistan, how could you evaluate them? Are there any prerequisites that there will be more of them?
— There are prerequisites, but at the same time there are difficulties. Our team now had the strongest player from Ukraine - Oleksandr Nasonov. But you yourself understand that now everything is difficult with this.
- Is this related to travel restrictions for Ukrainians?
- Yes.
“Other Ukrainian teams also moved and played in European competitions, but something didn’t work out for Dynamo”
- How do you like Dynamo's performance at the start of the season? They have received a lot of criticism and justify it with frequent moves, is it really about them?
— Everyone knows that the start was unimportant. Well, moving, it's understandable, it's all complicated. But other Ukrainian teams that also played in European cups also moved and played. But something did not work out in Dynamo.
It's hard to say because I don't know what's inside. I communicate with the guys and with everyone, but somehow it didn’t go well, everything is so strained, everything is hard. There was not a single easy game, I think the guys were a little tired mentally. But this is football, they were preparing for it. It’s difficult, you look from the side and understand that this is not what you would like to see Dynamo, which you see now. Most likely there is a psychological and moral component.
— What about logistics?
— As far as I know, yes, there were questions. Some movements from Europe to Europe were like that. But this is a question for the leadership.
- In your opinion, what first of all needs to be changed at Dynamo in order to reach the previous level?
- First of all, there was no particular reinforcement, there were those guys who were. Perhaps not physical condition, but team speed, Dynamo has always been famous for this. I think with more team speed they will play in a completely different way.
I hope that the winter break will do them good. And after some vacation they will play differently. The guys are not bad, but somehow they need to be directed a little in a different direction.
- What do you think, maybe they lack a pronounced attacker? By the way, a few months ago I saw Leonenko’s story, where he was asked who was the last real striker in Dynamo, and he answered that it was you.
— Vitya?
- Yes.
- Well, thank him for that. Very nice, of course, because he was also quite good in his time.
Well, here is Artemka (Besedin), it’s a pity that after the injury he was never able to return to his condition. Quite often I communicate with him, and he calls and asks for advice. I try to help him, it is clear that it is hard for him. I don't know the reason, since I'm not on the team every day. For me, he had and still has potential, but something doesn’t work out for him.
There may be little playing time, but even when he played, it was not what the coaching staff would like to see. Therefore, such a rotation occurs. A footballer needs trust, then he gains confidence in himself and his abilities.
- At the start of the season, Lucescu showed in every possible way that he believes and trusts Besedin, releasing him at the start, maybe it's the situation around and you need to change the team?
- Maybe. But in order to change, you first need to show something, otherwise it will be difficult to leave for some more or less stronger club. People are watching, watching, analyzing. I would like him to show here that he can, and then talk about some changes.
“According to Khatskevich, football is not in the first place in Cyprus, football-related matters are more important there”
- Dnipro-1, which is now the leader of the championship with a five-point lead over Shakhtar, surprised you with its results?
- To be honest, I was surprised, because I thought that the fight would be the same as before - Dynamo - Shakhtar. But only the first round, let's see how the second goes. Also, do not forget about the situation in our country, because it all also affects and affects everything.
- Mudrik is worth the money that is circulating in the media (100 million euros)?
“They specifically set such a price, since it’s too early for him to leave. Everyone understands that he is a young guy and you can still work. It’s not a fact that something will work out somewhere in a top club, well, for this, Shakhtar did it, so as not to let go. I read his interview, where he himself was shocked by this figure. I think he still has everything ahead of him. The time will come, and they will lower it.
— Will he be released in the winter?
- I think no.
- Is it time for Lucescu to leave, or can the Romanians still be surprised by something?
- It is not correct for me to discuss the head coach of Dynamo, to decide for the management. It has always been like this - if the coach does not show the result, then something is wrong. There are reasons for everything, it's hard for me to judge. There are quite experienced leaders there, I am sure they will make the right decision.
— Did you follow Khatskevich in Cyprus? Why do you think you only stayed there for a month?
- Of course. Unfortunately, football is not in the first place there. There are other interests and other tasks. There, a person as a coach matters less and is not so much needed than all the other things that are around football.
- Under him, the club rose in the standings, having played six matches - three wins, one draw and two losses...
- Here!
- Did you communicate with him after the appointment or after the dismissal? What were they talking about?
- We communicated and communicate almost every day. And he congratulated me, and I congratulate him. We are very good friends and in touch all the time.
- Should we expect Khatskevich in some new place soon?
- Hope so. I think that he will not remain without work for a long time, offers will come.
- World Cup - who do you root for? Who is the favorite to win? Who will be the best player?
- Now for Argentina. But there are a lot of teams, like Germany, France, Brazil. England has been somehow difficult lately, I was constantly rooting for them, but somehow not convincingly.
The World Cup is very difficult, in Europe you can somehow think and predict a little. I think there will be surprises, as usual, we'll see, it's interesting. First time in winter.
I will worry about Messi. For me, this is the only person who is currently the best in the world, which is why I chose Argentina.
Andrey Shevchenko
