Marino Pusic: I see great potential in this young team

Shakhtar head coach Marino Pusic gave his first interview in the the new club:

- First of all, I sincerely thank you for the warm welcome I felt from all the people when I arrived at the club. As they said, "Welcome to the family!". I felt it and I am grateful for it. Of course, the decision was not easy for me, because I enjoyed and had great success working with other colleagues at Feyenoord. But in life at a certain moment you make a different decision, sometimes you have to do it. I had a good feeling about this project and the people, they were able to convince me. And I see great potential in this young team. So the combination of these two things made me take a new step.

- What can you say about today's Shakhtar squad and our players?
- As you know, we played against each other, and I studied them a lot before the matches, so I know a lot of characteristics of the team and, as I said, I think it has a lot of potential to play good football. Of course, gradually we will develop and get to know each other better every day. I believe that players can improve themselves and reach a higher level.

- "Shakhtar" is a club with a rich history and great ambitions, and changing the coaching staff and leading a new team in the middle of the season is not easy. How do you see the development of the team under your guidance?
- It is still too early to say anything about it, because, as you know, I arrived only yesterday evening, so this is my first training session with the team. We had a short meeting, got to know each other, I showed some videos and we started working together. First impressions are always right, and this time they were certainly good. I feel positive energy from the team, this is a good sign to start the work.

- The match with Barcelona is coming soon, and it is probably too late to change anything about the team. What are you planning to do?
- Yes, you are right, it is too short of time a period to do anything, but we can prepare for the game. And I can always ask the players of my team to play football the way I like it. Let's compete and try to play against them to see where we are now - in these circumstances and playing against the best teams in Europe. It's an interesting moment to see our level today.

- These are very difficult times for Ukraine, we have many Ukrainian fans. Maybe you want to say something to them?
- Yes of course. Terrible things happen and I empathize with people. I've already told the players today that, unfortunately, when I was younger I was in much the same situation in the former Yugoslavia. That's why it's always unpleasant, it's terrible. I empathize with people, I feel many things. But at the same time, I said to my players: there is always hope and you have to fight for it and for your fans, for your country, you represent your country, your city, so you have to be in top form. And tomorrow we'll see where we stand at the moment. We will fight.