Taras Stepanenko: Make a normal championship

13-07-15 12:14:43

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In an interview to the SE correspondent, Shakhtar midfielder summed up the past season, which wasn’t Shakhtar’s easiest one, and spoke about his plans and hopes for the future.

- After all the passions of the past season subsided, could you name the objective reasons for Shakhtar’s defeat in the battle for the league gold?
- By and large, everything can be easily explained: we lost points in simple situations, in the games with those teams, against which we simply do not have the right to misfire. In my opinion, this was due to our lack of concentration. We have many young players who do not quite understand how they should play at Shakhtar. Some of them do not always realize that the team regularly challenge the topmost spots. Although, of course, it is worth noting that people mature annually, they become more experienced. We must help each other, come to each other’s rescue, and experience both victories and defeats together.

- Have your arch-rivals deservedly won the gold medals according to you?
- Yes, I think so. We cannot say that Kyiv claimed the top spot in the league unfairly or due to some undercurrents. What can we talk about if Dynamo performed in this Premier League edition without losing a single match. Shakhtar, in turn, met with the team of Serhiy Rebrov three times, and did not score a single goal. At the same time I would not blame Dynamo for the fact that we failed to claim the top spot. After losing some very important points for us, we have only ourselves to blame. It is clear that in the championship where Dynamo play nearly every match at home, they found it much easier. But the team are not to blame for the situation which happened in the country. Well, now we need to gather strength to admit our defeat and do everything to claim the final win next season. Shakhtar have claimed the league title for five years in a row, and if we have stumbled, it just implies that next season we have to work even harder.

- Just as often as with Dynamo, Shakhtar also met with Dnipro this past season, sometimes even playing two consecutive games. Did Myron Markevych’s team give you a pain in the neck either?
- Dnipro have always been and remain to be a good team and worthy opponents. Dnipro’s special feature is that they gather pace from the off, showcasing a high level for quite a long time, but on the homestretch they always lack something. Although this year Dnipro have reached the Europa League final, beating some serious contenders on their way. And in the final the guys looked very good. Believe me, that’s well worth it. I cannot say that the past season was bad for Dnipro, but I'm sure that this team are capable of doing better.

- Will the charges of Markevych be able to join in the title race between Shakhtar and Dynamo?
- Dnipro are trying to do so every year. I can remember that back under Juande Ramos, the team were sitting the top spot for the whole season, but after stumbling in the end they let the title slip away. Perhaps the boys lack some victorious experience, which is ample in Shakhtar’s case, who won numerous trophies. In fact, the ‘psychology of the winner’ are not just words, that's really important. One should embrace this philosophy, and then you will play every game to win. And not just win four of five matches and then think that you have conquered all the peaks. One should win every match – no matter whether a friendly one or an official one. When you get used to it, there appears a chance to win something.

I do not understand the undercurrents

- Is the fact that the Ukrainian giants Metalist left the title race a plus or a minus for Shakhtar?
- I think that that’s a minus. As the more top teams we have in the league, the better it will be both for Shakhtar, Dynamo and Dnipro, as well as for other Premier League sides. Besides, with increasing league level, the players also grow, which has a beneficial effect on the national team. It also helps in the international stage. It should be understood that when obviously easy games are played in the league, the coaches find it harder to psych up the players for them. Shakhtar have been to Brazil, so there the friendly games are attended by about 30 thousand spectators. It can be seen with the naked eye, that with such an attitude, the players’ dedication will be relevant, because they want to prove their high level in front of their fans. What can we talk about if the official match in the Premier League is attended by a thousand people. When the crowd is scattered around the stadium, it seems that the stands are empty ... Believe me, it does not any positive emotions at all.

- After a series of talks and altercations, the format of the future Ukrainian championship will remain the same. What do you think about this?
- I read news on the Internet, Illichivets relegated to the First league, they might replace Metalurh Donetsk ... Can’t they just make a normal competitive championship! Would you agree that it’s a bit strange situation. For three years now, no one leaves the top flight - the team got a lower class, but the other one has no money, so we bring the losers back. It is unlikely that this situation will bring someone any good. I think that instead of talking about the easy games and betting on the games, they could make a competitive championship. Let there will just ten teams, but they will be normally financed. At the same time, players will be able focus on their performance and not think about the fact that they have not been paid salary for a few months. In the absence of finance, players are counting on the fact that another club would pay them a bonus, which, naturally, causes some undercurrents. Personally, I do not understand it, this should not happen in sports.

- Apparently, Shakhtar will go on playing their home games in Lviv. How has the attitude of local fans to the team changed and is it worthwhile to do it at all?
- There are many factors which, unfortunately, are also related to the political situation in the country. I cannot say that everyone in this city is against us, although they are not particularly supportive. However, in Lviv they created all the conditions for football, there is a great stadium. At the moment that’s the best option for Shakhtar. It should be understood that in other cities they cannot provide proper security for the team. Well, let's play where there is a possibility.

We don’t ask you to root for Shakhtar, just come to watch football

- Are you ready for the fact that this attitude to Shakhtar from Lviv fans may extend to the new season?
- Yes, I do. It’s been a year since we moved there. Honestly, let some 10-15 thousand people come who don’t root for us for the sake of attending football at all. Even when the public is against you, you start playing better than you do just in front of empty stands. No one asks them to root for Shakhtar, just come to watch football.

- This new season, Shakhtar will once again be forced to go places. On this basis, what so you make of the chances of your team to win the title from Dynamo?
- Everything depends on us. We should not complain about the fact that we play every game away. Of course, this is a significant argument, but we have no right to complain. They’ve created all necessary conditions for us to win. I won’t be lying if I say that some teams do not have the possibilities that we have even in their home games.

- This summer, several key players left Shakhtar. How will this affect the team's performance?
- It’s not the first time at all when some top performers leave us. Mister is an experienced coach who knows how to work with young people. The mentor has already told us that the departure of several players is not a problem for him. He believes that the guys, who have to replace them, will cope with their work. The fact is that when a football player wants to leave, he is no longer helpful to the team - in fact, his thoughts are full of other things, he sees himself in a different league. While his place can be occupied by an individual who wants to benefit the club with all his heart and soul. Well, that’s normal for sports. Hopefully, the young guys will adequately replace the players who have left.

- Mircea Lucescu has recently said that he is not planning any major signings this pre-season. Can we say that Shakhtar becomes increasingly more focused on the Ukrainian performers?
- Let me just note that the roles of those who left the team are replaceable. It’s up to Mister to decide who will remain in the starting XI, he can always find a way out. In spite of the fact that Shakhtar sets the top objectives. The league targets will traditionally be gold medals, we will also work to raise the domestic Cup. The coach has not spoken about the Champions League yet, but it is clear that we must make it to the group stage, and then we will see further. In the new season, we want to achieve results - for ourselves, for our families and fans. Then everyone will have the appropriate mood.

Award-winning team under mature coach

Based on the results of the previous season, Shakhtar’s Romanian specialist Mircea Lucescu continued to raise his own Ukrainian League bar. The mentor of Shakhtar remains to be the oldest head coach of the Premier League’s top three club.

In terms of continuous service , Lucescu has no equals

By the number of appearances in the Ukrinian League, Mircea Lucescu is inferior to Myron Markevych and Nikolai Pavlov. But in terms of continuous service, the Romanian mentor of Shakhtar is beyond competition. Starting from 16 May 2004 to 30 May 2015, he was in charge of Shakhtar in 331 consecutive Premier League games . By the way, the 200-game milestone was passed, besides Lucescu, by only three other coaches. In general, 14 experts - 11 domestic and three foreign ones – appeared in more than 100 top-flight games.

Second wind

In 11 matches of the second half of the league season, Alex Teixeira scored 14 goals, setting the new Ukrainian League record. Other three goalscorers did the same in various years. But it took Luiz Adriano 13 apps, while Maksym Shatskykh and Oleksiy Belik needed 15 apps for that. Meanwhile, Alex, who before the start of the season was not even among the top ten Brazilian goalscorers, now ranks 5thwith 45 goals under his belt. Being just one goal away from the third spot which is shared by Diogo Rincon and Cleiton Xavier.

Top 5 events

• Shakhtar for the record 6th time began the league season with 6 wins in a row, including the 5th under Mircea Lucescu.

• Shakhtar interrupted the longest winning streak of 22 games in the Ukrainian League history against Zorya. For the last time the Luhansk side took points from Shakhtar back in May 1993.

• Shakhtar for the first time lost to their countrymen Metalurh, who were allowed by the Pitmen to settle for only three draws in the previous 34 meetings.

• After defeating Zorya, Shakhtar updated their record claiming their 12^th major come-from-behind win.

• The new record holder of Shakhtar according to the number of Ukrainian League appearances has been Darijo Srna, outperforming Dmytro Shutkov - 289 apps.

Sport-Ekspress v Ukraine
13/07/2015