Kosyrin: We don’t see the Sudakov that was in 2023

Miner in his first match updated Champions League played draw with Bologna. Miners in Italy played out a goalless draw with the teamwhich played in the Champions League (then still the European Cup) for the first time since the 1964/1965 season. All the most significant ones moments of the match Bologna – Shakhtar we discussed with a well-known former player of Chornomorets and Donetsk Metalurh Alexander Kosyrin.

— Were you surprised by the starting lineup of the Ukrainian champion?

– Not really. Only the absence of the experienced Taras Stepanenko was noticeable. I attribute the appearance of Sikan in the starting lineup, and not Traore, to the fact that Daniil plays better on counterattacks. This was Marino Pusic’s game plan, I think.

— Already in the second minute, Norwegian referee Saggi awarded a penalty to the home team after Posch kicked Eginaldo in the legs…

– It was quite unexpected. Eginaldo could have been offside, but he held his line and was able, thanks to his speed, to break into Bologna’s penalty area.

— Sudakov went to take the penalty. Could anyone else have taken it?

— I don’t know. Perhaps Georgy wanted to prove himself in Italy, because there was information that Juventus and Napoli wanted to buy him. It is clear that Sudakov is nervous and not very confident in his abilities. He initially wanted to shoot at that corner of the goal, but he shot weakly and the goalkeeper reacted. Although all he had to do was look at the goalkeeper during the run-up and shoot past goalkeeper Skorupsky.

— Yesterday, Harry Kane scored three penalties out of three against Dinamo Zagreb. Surely, one can learn from the experienced Englishman?

— It is possible and necessary. Sudakov is still a fairly young footballer, he is only 22 years old. He lacks experience, he cannot control his emotions yet. Kane is worth 100 million. In the winter, we heard statements by Shakhtar CEO Sergei Palkin that Sudakov is worth 70 million euros. Now, after the unsuccessful European Championship (we are talking about Georgy Sudakov’s performance there), and now after the inexpressive match in Bologna, the miners’ playmaker is worth 20-30 million euros. This is my assessment of this situation. Yes, if the penalty had been scored, Shakhtar could have played differently. And perhaps the hosts would have rushed into the attack with all their might. No one will know now.

— How can Sudakov get out of this not very pleasant situation?

— Just work even harder in training and give it my all in official matches. There is no other way. Due to my inexperience, when I was a player of Kyiv Dynamo, I was offended when I was not trusted in the first team and was transferred to the reserves or Dynamo-3, I trained half-heartedly. Only after some time did I understand that I acted incorrectly then. Returning to Sudakov, I do not want him to repeat the fate of Mikhail Mudryk. He also has a lot of problems at Chelsea now – he practically does not play there anymore. Georgiy either has a psychological problem or some kind of injury – we do not see the Sudakov who was in 2023.

— Did you like Bologna?

— This is a fairly organized and tactically competent team. Perhaps the new format of the Champions League allowed Bologna to get into the main football tournament for the first time in 59 years. In general, Shakhtar and Bologna turned out to be approximately equal teams. Of course, the game was affected by heavy rain, but Renato Del Ara’s drainage allowed this match to be held. I already knew in the afternoon that it had been raining heavily in Bologna for two days, which did not allow the U-19 teams to play their game. I even had concerns about whether the main teams would be able to play their match.

— The statistics show that the hosts were closer to winning (shots 18-4 in favor of Bologna). What do you think about this?

— Only once, Riznyk really saved the miners, in the 52nd minute he blocked a shot from close range. The Shakhtar goalkeeper confirmed his class. But otherwise, it was a goalless game, to be honest. Of course, all Ukrainian football fans would like Shakhtar to win in Bologna, but a draw should be accepted. As they say, a little at a time. In general, I think that the Shakhtar Donetsk players can score points in all Champions League matches. Let’s see what happens next.