Oleksandr Kucher: There’s only goalkeeper behind me

18-11-14 20:50:18

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Before the game with Karpaty, the Pitmen’s No 5 talked to Matchday.ua.

On transfer

- We were told: "We're going to Kyiv". There were initially talks of Kharkiv, then about Kyiv. We normally perceive that. There’s no way around it. Everyone knew it would be tough, but we still had to show character, train, fight for the league title.

On situation with Brazilians

- It was an unpleasant moment. The boys were afraid to go to Ukraine. They worried for their families. I think this issue had to be brought up for discussion earlier, and not left on the last day. Then, there could be taken any decision that would suit everyone. And there wouldn’t have been a situation when everyone abruptly left. I am sure an agreement would be reached. Brazilians are in fact still here, they still came. There wouldn’t have been such a tense situation. The coaches were nerves, and all of us have experienced unpleasant moments. Fortunately, all ended well, we understand each other on the pitch and in every day life. We support each other.

On pyro in a match with Porto in Lviv

- Well, it's pyro, it is not scary. It was not a firecracker that could explode in hands. Thank you, of course, for the support, but there is another side to the coin: we have so few stadiums where UEFA allowed to play. And if the Arena Lviv, God forbid, is disqualified, there will be no place to play. Still, we play for the fans. Games without fans…

On banner Get Out of Lviv

- Yeah, it's weird. In the city everything is fine, people communicate, take pictures, and nobody said anything bas. No problems. And then someone unfolded a banner ... Someone wants to destabilize the Shakhtar for us to lose confidence. We will be stronger than this, it will only unite us.

On the role in the team

- First of all, I am a defender. I need to be reliable and talk a lot, give tips, spur up. There is only a goalkeeper behind me, and I can see the whole field. It will be easier to play when we talk. As for the episode with Fred, he had ‘to dig’ for the ball rather than leaving it to its opponent, he shouldn’t have take his foot away. It's all emotion, they remain on the field. Off the field, there are no problems, we are friends.

On the first pass

- I learned to make the first pass at Arsenal Kharkiv, we played with the last defender and two man-markers. I was a man-marker. And the coaches would tell me: you are a defender your task is simple: pick up the ball and give it to the nearest player. You're young; you do not need to invent anything. Pick up the ball and make a pass. That was what I was engaged in all the time, so I got used to it. I wouldn’t hit the ball somewhere upfield. As happens with a young guy: you enter the game, they give you the ball, and you do not know what to do with it. So, hit it towards an attacker.

Match with Porto

- It’s a pity that it turned out so. We were 2:0 up, failed to hold on to a win. It was not very pleasant. I was very upset. We are to blame for that penalty-kick and a goal on 94 minutes – we were not composed enough. Maybe it was not necessary to run on the counter; we should have probably dropped deep and sit in defence. But we wanted to go forward, score another goal – still, we play for the fans. We received ‘in response’.

On the nearest target

- We have to reach the Champions League knockout stage from the first place in the group. We compete for the league title. Well, I also want to qualify for the Euro with the national team.

On moving to Shakhtar

- Back then, I was viewed more like a defensive midfielder, rather than a defender. Before a medical check-up, I talked to Mister. He said that Tymoshchuk was leaving, so they needed a holder. At the training camp and in the league I was deployed in this position. But I played in defence for the national team.

On most unpleasant game

- There was a terrible match against Milan, when we lost 1:4, and I was replaced in the 20th minute. I lost a duel to Gilardino when he scored two goals. It was unpleasant to play such a match on my birthday. In general, I made a ‘celebration’ for myself. I would not say that Gilardino is a really uncomfortable striker. I just played carelessly, lost concentration. Lucescu took a right decision to replace me.

On life without football

- I used to do basketball. I played very well. I even played in the finals of the Volkov Cup, which took place in Kyiv’s Sports Palace. In basketball, I was more technical. Mom told me once that I had to opt for basketball.

FC Shakhtar Press Office based on Matchday.ua