Hero of the 11th round of the First League Ari Moura: Metalist 1925 needs to improve implementation

No one else in the PFL has such a magical left foot as the Brazilian Ari Moura Vieira Filho. But with the same foot he sent Metalist 1925 to the First League, when in the tournament of four he hit the post-match penalty kick with the Left Bank – and this was the last chance for the Kharkiv team to remain in the UPL. Well, after being demoted, Ari is doing everything to ensure that his club stays here for a while.

The technical and inventive Brazilian even received the nickname “Brazilian Yarmolenko” from Sport Arena columnist Arthur Valerko for the obvious similarity in dribbling and striking of the inverted left-handed right winger. The match Metalist 1925 – Flint became Moura’s benefit, which left the Sport Arena and PFL jury no doubts: Ari scored himself, gave a pass to Boryachuk for the second goal and passed the ball to his comrade, after which he played on Imerekov’s finish.

The best player of the eleventh round in the First League, Ari Moura, analyzed the performances of Metalist in 1925 for Sport Arena, talked about his adaptation to Ukraine, recalled his football childhood in Brazil, and also shared his expectations from the match against YUKSA.

– How unexpected and pleasant is it for you to be recognized as the best player of the tour in the First League?

– It’s always nice to be among the best. First of all, I thank God and my partners in Metalist 1925 for receiving such an honorable recognition.

– Before the eleventh round, your team could not win three matches in a row. What is the reason for such unstable results, since rivals do not have such personnel potential?

– It happens in football that sometimes not everything happens as we expect. We always play to win. Sometimes it works out, and sometimes it doesn’t. We will continue to fight to ultimately achieve what we strive for.

– How do you like working under the leadership of Patrick van Leeuwen? What changes have occurred since his appointment?

– Patrick is a very experienced coach who knows how to control the team. He helps us achieve our goals with his instructions, tips and advice.

— What does the new coach focus on? I guess the focus is on discipline?

– We do a lot of physical work, and this is very important for playing football. His style is quite intense and we can already feel how it helps us in matches.

– In the eleventh round you confidently beat Kremin (4:0). Surely you were able to breathe a sigh of relief after your debut crushing victory of the season?

– We were able to demonstrate good football in the match against Kremlin. We managed to score a few goals and this gave us even more motivation to continue working and achieving our goals.

– In the match against Kremlin, you opened the scoring with a great shot. This is not the first time this season that you have scored from outside the penalty area. Do you practice similar strikes in training? Does fortune smile on the brave?

“I’m happy that I scored such a spectacular goal.” Always working to demonstrate my best skills. I practice these types of shots a lot so that I can be accurate during matches.

– In what areas should your team still improve, and in what areas do you think they have made the most progress?

– Our team has good possession of the ball. We always create a lot of chances. I think we need to improve our attacking game, namely our execution. If we score more goals, we will be able to achieve the desired results.

– Metalist 1925 is in fifth place, and this is not the position we expected. Who do you consider your main competitors for the top 4?

— Today we are in fifth place. But this is a championship where everything changes very quickly. There are no passable opponents in our league, everyone is forcing the fight. You need to focus on your work and win.

– How strong is the competition in the First League? Did you expect such resistance from your rivals?

– When it comes to football, everything is possible. It doesn’t matter what league it is. Teams take to the field to win and work for it. We must respect our opponents and show our best game.

– What are your expectations from the match against YUKSA? In the first round the game ended without goals. Has your team gotten stronger since then?

– YUKSA is a very strong team. This will be a good fight, which we will go into 100% ready to achieve the desired result.

– In Brazil you played for a number of clubs. In which club were you able to realize your potential the most?

– I always gave my best in every club. There are actually both good and bad moments in my career. However, there is still more positive.

– Which famous football players did you manage to play with in Brazil? What did you learn from them?

– I only played with a few famous football players in Brazil. But I learned a lot from all the players I played with and the clubs I was at.

– How difficult was it to adapt to Ukrainian football? Maybe the experience of playing in Israel helped?

– I played in Israel for two years, thanks to which I got used to living outside of Brazil. Moving to Ukraine is a difficult decision, but I like challenges. Today I am very happy in Ukraine.

– There are many football players and women football players with the surname Moura in Brazil. Are there any of your relatives among them?

– No, I’m the only Moura from my family who plays football.

– There are quite a few football players from Brazil playing in Ukraine. Are there any of your fellow countrymen among them or those you knew before?

– I know several Brazilian players who are in Ukraine. I’m friends with some of them. It’s always nice to be among Brazilians and speak the same language.

– Did you manage to adapt to Ukrainian life? Have you seen war-scarred parts of Kharkov, Kyiv or other regions?

“It took me a little time to adapt. I saw some moments that shocked me. Today I feel good.

– Which of the defenders in the UPL was memorable last season? Who was the most difficult to play against?

– The UPL has a number of high-level players, and every match was difficult. But for me the game with Dynamo was the hardest.

– Your style is similar to James Harden. Who do you look up to in football, basketball or other sports? Including appearance?

– I don’t really follow basketball. But I follow football, but I’ve always loved wearing a beard, and now I’m happy with it.

– Please tell us about your family? Who else played football or another sport? What do parents do?

– My brother started a career in football, but due to an injury he was forced to stop. My father works and my mother is a housewife.

– Ukrainian journalists call you “the Brazilian Yarmolenko.” How do you feel about this comparison, and who do you think your playing style is similar to?

– Yarmolenko is a great player who has a great career in football. I’m glad to see the comparison. I really enjoy watching Mahrez play and I try to be inspired a little by his style.

– Did you find it difficult to miss a penalty in the “tournament of four”?

– Unfortunately, I didn’t score a penalty in an important match for the club. But I believe that God knows everything. It happened because it had to happen.

– Why did you decide to return to Metalist 1925 in the summer? What was important to you?

– Metalist 1925 is a club that received me very well from the first day. I’m happy with everything. We have a good microclimate in our team. I feel at home.

BLITZ

• Born in Cuaray, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
• Pupil – Rosario Esportes (Associação Rosário de Esportes).
• The first coach is Carlos Eviliano Madruga.
• Favorite club? I follow a number of European teams. I have sympathy for Real Madrid.
• Favorite player: Neymar
• Goal in football? My greatest dream has always been to become a footballer, I achieved it. Now I put it in God’s hands and he will guide me.

Yaroslav Krokha