With tonight’s Conference League match in sight, Zorya Luhansk manager Viktor Skrypnyk addressed the media to preview his first encounter with Jose Mourinho.
On Zorya’s chances:
“We have won two games, now the boys are confident. We didn’t start the season very well, we qualified for the Conference League with a lot of effort and the first match of the group stage didn’t go well and all of this has a significant effect on the emotional state of the players.”
“But now every game gives us new hope and we want to achieve a good result in what will be a party because an important team comes to visit us. The atmosphere on the pitch and in the stadium, which will see the crowd present tomorrow, adds a special flavor to the match.”
“I hope we will have opportunities to play well and achieve a positive result. It will be very difficult, but nothing is impossible, especially in football and just watching the Champions League matches. Every team has a bad and a good day. With the hope and confidence we have gained in the last few games, tomorrow we want to give everything to get a positive result.”
On whether the team is facing pressure:
“You have to catch the right wave, as they say. Now we are in the phase where everyone is happy, we are, the fans are and the ranking is more or less important. But this tournament is special for us when you play with such important teams.”
“Now is a good starting point to continue working in the same spirit and at the same pace. It will be very difficult, but we gained experience last year, we have had games with complicated opponents. But always before the game there is the hope that today is your day and that you will surely be lucky. We do not face Roma only with this hope, but we also work with full strength to show what we are capable of.”
“We have to be confident, but not too rigid. Tomorrow we have a very important match against a great rival, but the history of Zorya teaches us that such matches have already been faced. We want to write history, as well as have an experience that will help us in the future. We want to play these kinds of games and not watch them on TV.”
On what the game will mean to his players:
“For every young boy who is just getting used to the world of football, there are games that allow you to reach some heights more than others.”
“There is excitement, but a player does not go on the pitch – a team does. Taking into account the experienced players who will not be playing at such a high level for the first time, this mix should help to achieve a good result.”
“Everyone wants to defend the honor of the club and show their game, because even the relatives of the players will watch the match and cheer on the team. Without these matches, you cannot achieve the necessary experience, we hope that everything goes well.”
On why Mourinho is special:
“I don’t have the right to talk a lot, because the whole world knows his professionalism, how he makes the teams play and how he trains them. He knows everything about football.”
“José is a living legend who comes to visit us and this is a great honor. A very nice experience not only for the boys, but also for me in particular, because I can talk to him and learn a lot from him.”
