Sparrow: Rakytskyy has character, has an inner core, and such a goal can be scored once in a million attempts

Former striker of Shakhtar and the national team of Ukraine Andrey Sparrow praised the Pitmen’s first match against Feyenoord in the 1/8 finals of the Europa League, shared his opinion about Rakitskiy’s goal, and also named the strengths and weaknesses of the teams.

— TOHow would you characterize the course of the Pitmen’s first match against Feyenoord?

– If we take the final result, it is not bad for our team. As for the Shakhtar game, there are many questions. Especially if we are talking about Shakhtar’s attacking actions.

— Two weeks ago, after the matches with Rennes, it was known that three Shakhtar defenders would miss this meeting. Did you feel the absence of Bondar, Mikhailichenko and Hemp on the football field?

– Undoubtedly, it was clearly visible that the Orange-and-Blacks had practically a new line of defense. Especially affected, in my opinion, the absence of full-backs – Mikhailichenko and Konopli. These guys are good at attacking. Taylor and Topalov, who replaced them, practically did not move forward. But in the center of defense, everything was better – experienced Matvienko and Rakitsky, in general, played at a high level.

— How commentthose the game of Yaroslav Rakitskiy, who returned to his native team after a long break?

– Everyone knows that Yaroslav is an experienced master, he is a fighter on the football field. In any physical condition, he will fight for himself, for the team, for our country. Rakitsky has a character, an inner core. The match in Warsaw proved it once again. And it’s not about the ball scored. He acted very coolly, calmly launched attacks. The experience of Rakitskiy and Stepanenko was very important for Shakhtar that evening.

– Such a goal, which Rakitsky scored, we have not seen this before …

– I have seen something similar in my football history. After filing from the corner flag, Yaroslav formed, and the ball hit him either in the back, or in the coccyx. Such a goal can be scored once in a million attempts.

— WITHUEFA statistics: ygifts on goal – 5:21, on target – 1:6, all – V the benefit of the guests. How can we comment on this?

— Yes, the Donetsk team played very badly in attack. Of course, no coach can like such a game in attack. I did not like the game of the extreme midfielders, who sat low in their own half of the field. The thought even crept in that that evening the Shakhtar players were waiting for this match to end. I had to unwind and go to sleep.

But playing football is different: emotions, goals scored, beautiful combinations. And so, inflicting only 1 shot on target at Feyenoord’s goal is not the level of Shakhtar, who plays in the Champions League group stage every year. We need to play more targeted, attacking.

— TOak Vam game midfielders Miner? Pitmen’s midfield was in the optimal composition?

– The fact that the guys were not able to show all their skills is both the fear of losing an important game and the merit of the Feyenoord footballers. Let me remind you that they are leading their championship and have a 14-match unbeaten streak. And Zubkov, Bondarenko and Sudakov thought only about defense. Previously, Mikhailichenko and Konopolya ran great forward on their flanks, but now this was not the case. Everything is connected here.

– For the first time in 5 months, Marian Shved entered the field in Shakhtar’s jersey. Will he help the Donetsk team in the upcoming games?

– Of course, Igor Jovicevich should count on him. But he missed a lot, 5 months is no joke. Now he needs to get in shape through matches in the Ukrainian Premier League. But I think it’s too early for Shved to make a difference on the football field.

– How do you like the game of two forwards of Shakhtar: Traore and Kelsey, who replaced him?

I didn’t like Traore in this meeting at all. He had practically no useful actions, but he often fought with two opponents and he did not have much support. As for Kelsey, he is a very young guy and it was difficult for him to prove himself in the duel with Feyenoord.

— When the Pitmen opened the scoring, could Igor Jovićević make his substitutions in the 85th minute, and not in the 90th, when the guests had already leveled the score?

“Now you can say whatever you want. In principle, the Donetsk team were good in defensive actions. But in the rest of the lines it was possible and necessary to make substitutions. It was evident that the players were tired. But, the coach knows better when to make these substitutions.

– The return game of the 1/8 finals Feyenoord – Shakhtar will take place on March 16, and already on March 19, Feyenoord in Amsterdam will play, perhaps, the key match in the Dutch championship against Ajax. On the horizon is the championship and the game in the Champions League with its huge prize money. Maybe the Europa League, in this situation, is not really needed by Feyenoord?

– Look, all the clubs are fighting for reaching the quarterfinals of the Europa League. These are the decisive stages of the draw. Feyenoord go to 50 thousand fans. The coaching staff of the team from Rotterdam will rely on the most experienced players, I am convinced of this. None of the Feyenoord fans will allow the team to play carelessly in the home game against Shakhtar.

— TOWas he the most valuable player in Shakhtar Donetsk in the first meeting?

– I have several candidates: Trubin, Matvienko and Rakitsky. It was Yaroslav’s debut in this Europa League for Shakhtar, and he showed great football. Therefore, I will choose Rakitskiy MVP of the match.

– And what are the chances for two teams to pass before the return game?

– 60 to 40 in favor of the Dutch. The match will take place in Rotterdam, and if Shakhtar will play in the same manner, it will be very difficult to get into the quarterfinals. The coaching staff and all the players need to draw the right conclusions from the past game. Do not forget that key defenders will return to duty. I hope that in the Netherlands we will see a different kind of football played by the miners.