Former Ukrainian national team player Oleh Shelayev assessed Shakhtar Donetsk's performance in yesterday's 0-3 match with Italian side Atalanta in the 2nd round of the Champions League main stage.
Oleg Shelayev. Photo — fcdnister.com- "I was surprised by the physical condition of the Pitmen, who could not oppose Atalanta in terms of movement, " Shelayev said. " The Italian team literally crushed Shakhtar with their pressure and active movements across the pitch, and in fact did not allow Pushic's subordinates to climb high into the other half.
- How did Marino Pušić try to surprise his opponents in terms of tactics?
- With personnel changes, which he will have to explain. It seems to me that his idea was that the faster Eginaldo would run out on the counterattack and do it more successfully than the not so agile Traore, that the experienced Stepanenko would be more useful in defense against Atalanta than Bondarenko, that Gram would be more successful on the flank than Konoplya. But it turned out that this football played by Shakhtar was not effective. It was possible not to shoot at the opponent's goal, but at least to push the game away from their own goal? It was possible, however... It was like a sport like wrestling - we were simply put in a box, that is, in a disadvantageous position in advance.
- It was sad to watch the actions of Shakhtar's legionnaires, especially the Brazilians, in defense...
- Everything, of course, depends on a particular person, but it is clear that Brazilians like to play offense more than defense. The current Brazilians in Shakhtar's squad are acting weakly and carelessly. Some of them are frankly weak-minded, not ready to play through the motions, in contact - when it hurts, when it is necessary to go into the clash.
- Whose game did you like in the Atalanta team?
- First of all, De Ketelare, Lukman, de Roon. But their successful play up front would not have been possible if the defense had not been so good. Atalanta's defenders quickly took the ball away and did not allow the Pitmen to stay in the other half of the field for long. The players of the Italian team were not afraid to play one-on-one, and played very successfully individually.
- How timely did Pušić make the substitutions, and what did it do?
- Marino Pušić did everything he thought was necessary. Perhaps it was worth releasing Bondarenko a little earlier... But the need for Traore and Konoplya to come on was more than obvious. Traore had to cling to the ball and create opportunities for his teammates to attack the opponent's goal. Gram just had to be changed, so Konoplya's appearance did not surprise anyone.
- Is this a coaching failure?
- Everything will fall on Pushich, and that's understandable. They will say that he chose the wrong tactics, lineup, and so on... Although, it is not the coach who makes mistakes on the field, and the coach cannot remove the technical deficiencies of some performers. In my opinion, the club's management - those who selected the newcomers - should also be responsible for this result... But, of course, Marino Pušić will be blamed in hot pursuit.
- Could it come to his resignation?
- And who will replace him, and for what money? And the costs will have to be counted, because after Pushic, his coaching staff will have to be fired and some players will have to be sacked... Then, if a new coach is appointed, new players will have to be bought. In the midst of the season, all this is risky and not very practical.
- Speaking of practicality... How can you currently assess Shakhtar's tournament achievement in the current Champions League?
- With some caution, we can assume that the tournament point after the draw with Bologna will be Shakhtar's only one in this tournament. And we will have to take it for granted now. We play football, and thank God! We represent Ukraine in the Champions League, and it's already good. We need to understand that for some time we will have to be in a position more familiar, for example, to clubs in Slovakia, Serbia, Poland, who do not consider any loss a disaster. We, unlike those I have listed, have been gradually climbing up, and now it is difficult and painful for us to fall down. But this is the reality.
Oleg Semenchenko
