Honored coach of Ukraine Miron Markevich shared his impressions of the second matches of the Round of 16 of the Champions League and expectations for the quarter-finals of this tournament.
Miron Markevich. Photo — fckarpaty.org.ua— I won’t be original when I say that football as performed by PSG and Barcelona is simply cosmic, something incredible. Football that is exclusively focused on attack, when the boring midfield shuffle is a thing of the past, and even the goalkeeper joins in. This is all yesterday\'s news.
— If I may ask, in the pair PSG — Liverpool, whom did you favor?
— The English giant, although the Parisians demonstrated a fantastic level of preparation in the first match. But that’s what happens in football, when one team dazzles, yet due to bad luck or the flawless play of the opposing goalkeeper, they lose. An unfair defeat at home did not throw PSG off track, and yesterday in Manchester, the guests managed to rehabilitate themselves and advance further. Although it’s certainly frustrating that such a strong team as Liverpool was eliminated so early.
— How do you explain the phenomenon of PSG? After all, after their long-standing leader Mbappe left, many experts predicted that the best times for the Parisians were behind them.
— I have always held the view that there are no irreplaceable players. Mbappe left — Dembele appeared. The main thing is that the actions of the Parisians have become more diverse, balanced, and therefore, more dangerous for the opposition. For me, PSG and Barcelona are currently demonstrating incredible intensity and rehearsed combinations at high speeds. Stylistically, they are very similar, and it’s a good thing that fate did not bring these teams together in the quarter-finals.
— However, Barcelona’s next opponent, Borussia, is also an advocate of vertical football, clearly thought-out runs into free zones on the flanks.
— I agree, but Barcelona is quick both in decision-making and in ball handling. Moreover, most of the City players are very young, and their audacity in difficult game moments can also come in handy.
— So, finally, who do you consider favorites in the quarter-final pairs?
— PSG and Barcelona — definitely. If Arsenal return their leaders by the end of March, they will be able to give Real a run for their money. I expect the fiercest battle in the clash between Bayern and Inter. Both clubs have many performers who can play both spectacularly and pragmatically. Therefore, it will all come down to the details.
Andrey Pisarенко
