Former defender of Donetsk Shakhtar Valeriy Kriventsov shared his thoughts on the confrontation of his former team with the Turkish Besiktas in the second qualifying round of the Europa League.
Valeriy Kriventsov. Photo — zarya-lugansk.com— Ahead is the confrontation with Besiktas. Who is the favorite in this match?
— It’s a difficult question. Two approximately equal teams will meet. It will be important to see which team is in better shape for these matches.
— Will the miners have at least a slight advantage over the opponents, considering that the Turks have not played any official matches yet?
— I want to believe that. (Smiles). But how it will go, only the matches themselves will show.
— Does the fact that Arda Turan leads Shakhtar provide any additional motivations to the Ukrainian team?
— Certainly, the Turkish coach will focus on certain aspects, but on the field, it’s the players who make the decisions, and that’s a big difference.
— But for Arda Turan, this will be a crucial battle?—
I think so. There will be increased attention from the Turkish press. In my opinion, the excitement surrounding these matches will be crazy.
— Will Shakhtar’s motivation be through the roof considering their unsuccessful last season?—
— Of course. Last season, the miners clearly did not shine, although there were some decent matches in Europe; they just didn’t get the results. Now, for the newly arrived players or for those who are not long in the team, it’s important to perform well as they are under scrutiny. Additionally, it is necessary to earn points for the coefficient for Ukraine. Shakhtar needs to rehabilitate itself in front of the fans in all tournaments. The team has the potential for that.
— What have you noted as a specialist from Shakhtar’s games against Ilves in the previous stage of the Europa League?
— New requirements, schematic arrangement on the principle of “Barcelona” — 4−3−3. Movements, incursions, freeing up flanks, high pressing in the middle zone. However, to bring all this to automatism, time is needed. Nevertheless, it is clear now that the team is physically better prepared than last year at this time.
— Do you have more optimistic expectations from Shakhtar now than a year ago?
— Yes. It’s clear that Arda Turan does not give his charges any respite; he keeps everyone on their toes and does not respect authority. Considering that everyone wants to play, the players will do their utmost to prove their worth to the coach.
Sergey Demyanchuk
