Srna said why Shakhtar fired the head coach

Pitmen’s acting coach explains why the club decided to part ways with Patrick van Leeuwen.

Shakhtar’s acting head coach Darijo Srna spoke about the reasons for the changes in the team’s coaching bridge. According to the specialist, they decided to part ways with their ex-mentor Patrick van Leeuwen due to unsatisfactory results.

“First, I agreed to an interview because there were many questions for me and the club. I did not comment anywhere, so I would like to clarify this situation a little. Patrick’s invitation is due to the fact that he showed very well, amazing football in Zarya – before the last two rounds he fought for the championship, got into the Conference League and made a very good result, and he brought himself to Shakhtar with his quality of play and results.

Of course, we know that it will be difficult for every coach at Shakhtar at the beginning. Fonseca, Castro, Jovicevic, and De Zerbi went through it – they all went through certain difficulties, and we always met them halfway and helped them. We know that from the beginning of the off-season, the team came to Patrick a little after the U21 European Championship, there were injuries: Sudakov had an urgent operation, Stepanenko had a knee. Therefore, we went through a very difficult period, had patience, gave support, like every Shakhtar coach.

But the day came when we had to say honestly and honestly, to be honest and fair in front of our fans, which, unfortunately, did not work out for us. We failed to play the kind of football that the fans, the club president and all of us needed. We couldn’t find a way for the miners to play football. And I can only say thank you to Patrick and the coaching staff for a great job, but we decided to go a different way. We wish him all the best, success and great results in sports.

As for me, Shakhtar is my club and this is my family. To be honest and frank, I would have been Shakhtar’s coach earlier. But I am a person who trusts others, and I want to help every coach in his work. And I want to say from my own experience that every team of Shakhtar made the coach very strong. They all came here alone, and went to top clubs after Shakhtar as others. There is the work of the club, the team and the coach – when this triangle exists, there will be success.

Now I accept Shakhtar because they are my family. When a family is struggling, you need help. Therefore, I was not afraid, even before such games, to take the team and try to do everything in my power. I told them yesterday that I am not Guardiola, I am not Klopp, I am Darijo Srna, who does not have much coaching experience, but I have the heart of a miner. The heart of a miner, which is very important for everyone. And this heart told me that I have to help the team now.

In a very difficult situation for the country, for Shakhtar, I could not refuse and told the president that I was in favor of two hands. The president offered me two rounds, so I could immediately join the team, become head coach, sign a contract, choose a coaching staff. And he said he was willing to suffer with me. And I answered him: “President, I love this club, and I assure you that today I want to bring you a coach who is stronger than me. Who is better than me now, more experienced than me and who can now give the team more than I can.”

I put the club above myself, and it couldn’t be any other way. I put the club above myself because no one can be above the club. My ambitions cannot be higher than the ambitions of the club. Therefore, I have told you briefly the situation that has occurred in the last two weeks. As for the new coach, I assure the president every day, along with director Palkin, that this is the right choice. And he is very trusting. And we are negotiating. And I hope that this coach wants to join us,” Shakhtar’s official website told Srna.

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