Mircea Lucescu: Dnipro of Ramos and that of Markevych are two completely different teams

29-04-15 22:43:29

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Press conference by Shakhtar coach after defeating Dnipro.

- A very good game of two good teams. It was evident that both teams gave their all to win. Today, we based our performance mainly on technique, while Dnipro based it on their powerful football players, their physique, and, probably, a more vertical performance. We reached the opposition penalty area through combining it low, while Dnipro often did it through aerial passing, imposing their game and winning those aerial challenges. We still had more great chances - we could give the score a more lopsided look. But Dnipro also delivered the ball in our penalty area, where through their bulky players they put us under pressure and caused us a lot of trouble. In general, the match was spectacular. It showed that if two equal teams play, it brings a spectacle. The stadium is full. And everyone who follows football remains happy.

- You said you were trying to operate more skillfully than the opponents. Then how would you explain the fact that your team earned four yellow cards, plus a penalty?
- I would not like to comment, but the referee of today’s match was in charge of our meeting with Dynamo Kyiv in the first half of the league season and sent off Shevchuk, if you remember it. Essentially, we finished competing in the league in that game. I can say just one thing: for the very first foul Stepanenko immediately received a yellow card! And for as many as eight consecutive fouls Fedetskyi earned just a warning. The ref never showed him the card. There are many other situations which I would not like to review now. Probably, the referee could have sent off Stepanenko by showing him a second yellow card. But the first card, I think, wasn’t the case. I do not always understand some of the ref’s decisions, but I want to mention the lineswoman Rachynska, who got it right in both the first and second episodes. She was very attentive and correct. Perhaps, she's the best ‘linesman’ in the Ukrainian league.

- You haven’t beaten Dnipro since the 2012 autumn - since the time of Ramos’ spell in Dnipropetrovsk. Today, you’ve actually done it ...
- Dnipro of Ramos and that of Markevych are two completely different teams. Plus we made substitutions today compared with the match against Dynamo. Fred, Douglas, Taison and Adriano did not play at all. I thought that in today's match we should very well organize our defensive performance and try to quickly counterattack. When we played against the Dnipro of Ramos, we made a lot of errors. Today, we also had them, we could have been punished for the lack of concentration and attention. It’s good that everything ended like that. I think that under Ramos Dnipro were more aggressive and pacey, especially when they beat us 3-1. And when we drew 1-1, there was a blunder by Kanibolotskiy, although we had a major advantage throughout the match. We also played well at home, when we suffered a 0-2 defeat with Fedetskiy scoring. Today, we also had many free kicks near our goal. The Dnipro failed to score. That's football - sometimes every shot finds the back of the net, and sometimes nothing gets home, just like today. I think we deserved to win today. But we haven’t made it past Dnipro yet. We don’t know where the next match will be held. Definitely it will take place on a neutral ground. If it happens in Lviv, then the audience will probably be rooting for Dnipro. So we have not reached the final yet, we played just the first leg. There will also be an important league game against Dnipro in a short while. But I like this schedule and these games. I want to have as many of such meetings as possible. This will raise the league level. I'm not afraid of playing such strong opponents, I want them to be as numerous as possible.

- I think that Costa ranks among the top ten players having excellent dribbling in our league. Therefore, I’m still waiting for him to beat some 3-4 opponents and score a goal. But that does not happen ...
- Unfortunately, he’s probably not in the Ukrainian league in his thoughts any more. Perhaps it's time for him to leave. You made a good point. He lacks focus, makes a lot of errors, being inconsistent, I regret to say. I perfectly understand him. All year round, he thinks more about the teams who are interested in him, which, possibly, he would like to move to, rather than thinking about the Ukrainian league. Because Douglas’ qualities are not questioned: he is very fast, explosive, with good dribbling, with a great shot. All the performance aspects inherent in him are top-notch. Naturally, he wants to play in another, a stronger league. Perhaps the time has come. We’ll see. In general, I do not think that’s a major issue for us. Behind him, Marlos and Nem are maturing. I think we’ll be able to replace him if needed, and it will not be a major loss.

- Before the meeting, you were talking to Markevych for quite a while ...
- I congratulated him on advancing to the Europa League semis. That’s a great achievement! The Ukrainian team plays in a European competition semi-final. Therefore, he deserves congratulations: he and his team alike. I understand his situation: it is very difficult to concentrate on the league, the Cup and the UEFA Europa League. If they still focus on the Europa League, it is possible that they might play in the final. Just like Dynamo, frankly speaking, who were able to make it past Fiorentina.

- Over the period of four days you played games against both Dynamo and Dnipro ...
- Dnipro played a more open football, while Kyiv dropped deep and thought only about counterattacking. Everyone has their own goal. Dynamo’s goal is winning the league title, but I still reckon that Shakhtar are stronger than the capital-based club. If in the conditions that we find ourselves, we have a competitive edge over Dynamo in both legs, then, probably, after claiming five consecutive league titles everyone wants to see different winners of gold medals.

FC Shakhtar