An experienced defender, who returned to Shakhtar nine years later, believes that the Ukrainian championship has lost in quality, but will gradually grow
Dmitry Chygrinsky shared his impressions of his debut match after returning to Minerand talked about how the championship of Ukraine during his absence.
“Has the UPL changed in nine years? There are changes, of course. First, let’s be frank, due to the fact that Ukraine is in a state of war, as football has lost, many players, and this applies to all clubs, have left the teams. But the youth got a chance and I would say that football has become more intense. This is not for today’s game, but in general. I repeat, I lost it somewhere, but it’s a matter of time. I think this championship will be a little higher in comparison with the previous one. That’s the main difference, in my opinion.”
“Do I feel like a leader? Not really. The youth is also a good motivator, because football is now such that you can’t play much on one experience. And in terms of physical demands and intensity, I have no right to lag behind the young. Therefore, they push me, and perhaps they take something from me. This is such a symbiosis, a two-way process.”
Recall that 36-year-old Chygrynskiy returned to the Donetsk club as a free agent and signed a contract until June 30, 2024. The defender played for Shakhtar from 2002 to 2015 (with a break for one season with Barcelona). With the Miners, the Ukrainian won the Ukrainian championship six times and triumphed in the UEFA Cup.
Shakhtar, having beaten Oleksandriya with Chygrynskiy (2:1), scored 7 points and ranks third in the UPL standings. In the next round, Patrick van Leeuwen’s wards will play with Kryvbas on August 20.
Source: Sportarena
I am Ben Stock and I work in Athletistic as an author. My specialty is covering football news and other related topics. I have been writing for this website since the past 2 years, crafting compelling stories with the latest updates in the sports world. My articles have gained widespread appreciation amongst readers due to their accuracy and depth of research.
