Former Minaj coach Volodymyr Sharan commented on his resignation from the Zakarpattia club, assessed the reasons for the team's failures this season, and shared his immediate plans.
Volodymyr Sharan. Photo: fcminaj.com"The decision to terminate cooperation was a joint one with the club's management. Both the club's management and I thought about it after the home match with Obolon, in which we lost 0-1. There was no result at that time and we were looking forward to the game against Brewers, thinking that we could beat them. So our coaching staff, which has sufficient experience, understood everything perfectly well. The management also had thoughts about terminating our cooperation.
If we talk about the reasons for the team's failures, everything is complex. In the off-season, I said that we needed to increase the budget, and the club president did that. However, those clubs that joined the Premier League were of a different quality - in terms of players, budget and infrastructure. And I understood perfectly well that our only chance was to play the transition matches. Moreover, I was about seventy per cent sure of it. But despite this, we still hoped that we would be able to perform well for the second season in a row. However, unfortunately, we, the coaches, and the people involved in transfers underperformed a little. I cannot say that we managed to strengthen the team. In the summer, players who were no worse than those we recruited to replace them left Minaj. This, of course, is the fault of the head coach and those responsible for transfer matters. As for the preparation, we had everything at a good level. In terms of financing, I can't say anything bad, because we were paid. It is clear that sometimes there were small delays, but given the difficult times, they were not something special. We understood everything, and this is by no means the main reason why Minaj is in sixteenth place without a single win. As for the microclimate in the team, it was quite normal. Of course, sometimes it happened that I, as a coach, could not stand it, and this raised the temperature in the locker room. But this always happens when you are under psychological pressure. However, I'll be honest: there were no conflicts that allegedly caused the lack of results at Minaj. We have a good team, and I am very grateful to our guys for working hard and giving their all in every match.
In the near future, my assistants and I will be in Uzhhorod. We need to pack our things, pack our bags and get ready to go home. I cannot say that we will leave with our heads held high. But we won't give up either, because we have a sense of fulfilment for the past season. We are very satisfied with it. The problems we had this season are another story. Although, of course, we would like to do better. However, I have no regrets, because I managed to work in a good city, in a UPL club. So I want to wish Minaj only victories," Sharan said.
