Oleg Shelaev: From the game we see that Traore is not very useful to Shakhtar

Miner played the third match of the main stage of the UEFA Champions League. The miners in London lost to the vice-champion of England Arsenal – 0:1. We discussed all the most significant moments of the match with the famous former football player of Shakhtar, Dnepr, Metalist and the Ukrainian national team Oleg Shelaev.

— During all the years of Ukrainian independence, our teams played 33 matches in England and never won away. What do these statistics say?

“These numbers speak about the strength of the English teams. English football clubs are always tactically competent and have masters from all over the world playing on their roster.

— You also played in Foggy Albion, didn’t you?

– Yes. With Dnepr I played against Middlesbrough, and with Metalist I played against Newcastle. The fans of English teams made a great impression on me. They greet any successful action by their players with a roar, no matter whether it is an accurate pass or a tackle. The quality of lawns in England is at the highest level. Moreover, the lawn is very fast and you need to quickly get used to it. The grass there is cut short, and any catch of the ball is fraught with danger, you need to maintain concentration in each episode. I also remember the football players who played in English clubs – powerful and strong, winning a single combat against them was quite a task.

— What is your opinion about the current Arsenal?

— In recent years, Arsenal have been a clear contender for gold medals in the Premier League. The club has a glorious history and great opportunities. I think that the Gunners did not play at full strength against Shakhtar. They have a very difficult calendar – the Championship and FA Cup, the Champions League. It seems to me that the English wanted to score a quick goal and play defensively. They would look for a chance in counterplay. That’s basically what happened. It was clear that they were playing in energy-saving mode. Let’s not forget that next Sunday they will host this season’s leader, Liverpool. And this will be the most important match for Arsenal in October.

— Let’s move on to the match in the capital of England. How do you like Shakhtar’s performance in the first half?

— In general, the Donetsk team performed well. They met two Arsenal supporting midfielders in the center of the field – Partey and Rice. It is clear that there was danger at Riznyk’s goal – the individual skill of the players in the hosts’ attack group was at the highest level. Our guys tried to run out on a counterattack, but they didn’t succeed.

— Why did Shakhtar’s player pass back to the goalkeeper every time the ball was in possession, rather than start an attack?

— Sikan is no faster than Gabriel or Salib. So there would be little use in casting forward. I think that out of 10 programs one would be successful. The hosts were looking for Jesus ahead and he was working at high speed. When in possession of the ball, our players, passing back to Riznyk, wanted to get a break, even a few seconds were important.

— Is Shakhtar’s goalkeeper offended by receiving the ball into his own goal?

– Certainly. Overall, he played well. In that episode, at the 29th minute, Hemp accompanied Martinelli. The Brazilian shook him and went into the center of the penalty area. This is where Efim needed support from the holding midfielder, I think that Kryskiv could have closed that area in front of the goal. And after the hit there was still a small rebound, the ball hit the post and bounced into Riznyk’s back. This is a game moment, it happens.

— What does the head coach of the team talk about during the break when his players lose by a minimal score?

— That at 0:1 there is a chance to win back. Perhaps it surprised some, but the hosts gave the Miners the opportunity to take possession of the ball. Sometimes our players tried to combine well, but the Arsenal players blocked the zones very competently and applied great pressure.

— Only in the third match of the current Champions League did Shakhtar’s players shoot into the opponent’s goal from a field goal. Pedrinho did this in the 92nd minute of the match. Was this the best chance to level the score for the Ukrainian team?

– Yes. The orange-and-black midfielder powerfully hit Raya’s goal from inside the penalty area, and only the skill of the Spanish goalkeeper allowed the hosts not to concede. But I think a draw would not be a disaster for Arsenal. In the new format of the Champions League, each club will play 8 matches and Arsenal will score their points, I have no doubt about it.

— An expensive foreign player, striker Lassina Traore comes on as a substitute only in the 84th minute of the match, although the team needs to win back. Why keep such a forward on the team for four years?

— Every team has selection errors. The club management must decide whether to carry this suitcase further or not. We don’t know what Traore’s salary is, although he came from high-status Ajax, so it’s probably not small. From the game we see that Traore is not very useful to Shakhtar.

— If we compare the quality of Donetsk Shakhtar’s play in three Champions League matches, was the match in London the best for the Ukrainian champion?

— Each game is a separate story. It would be easier for me to judge the strength of the opponent if the Donetsk team played two matches with Atalanta and Arsenal, for example. And in one single game, anything can happen. The playing styles of Atalanta and Arsenal are very different. I noticed that Shakhtar players played the match in London with a great desire to show their best qualities.