Bohdan Butko: "After the match with Dynamo we will immediately switch to the national team"
Shakhtar Donetsk defender Bohdan Butko spoke in an interview to the official website of the Football Federation of Ukraine about his motivation for the last round of the national championship and the upcoming gathering of the national team.
- Bohdan, Shakhtar will hold the last round of the Ukrainian championship in the rank of champion. How will you look for motivation for the final match against Dynamo?
— Of course, we are already in the status of champions and winners of the Cup of the country. The match with Kyiv does not solve anything in the tournament plan. But all Shakhtar players are well aware that we will play against our most principled opponent in the national championship. Therefore, there will definitely be no relaxation. We want to win to consolidate our championship and finish the season in a good mood.
- How can you beat Dynamo on its field?
— We recently won over Dynamo in the Cup in Dnipro. In the championship recently, the statistics of meetings with Kyiv has deteriorated, we did not win. Therefore, we must prove that we are — champions and we can win in Kiev. If Dynamo beat us in Kharkiv, why can't we do it on its field? There is no overriding task, anything is possible.
- Will Shakhtar be motivated by the fact that Paulo Fonseca has decided to continue working in the team by signing a new contract?
— Of course. We are all happy with this event. Paulo has been in charge of Shakhtar for two years now, and it has been an excellent two years. We won the championship, the Cup, we played well in the Champions League. I am also grateful to the coach that he trusts me, and I try to fulfill the requirements of the coaching staff.
- A few days after the match with Dynamo, you will arrive at the location of the national team of Ukraine. How to avoid a holiday mood?
— Of course, at the end of the season, such thoughts may be present. But we — professionals and must be quickly rebuilt. And although, indeed, the season has come to an end, the national team will be fully concentrated, because we always come to the main team of the country in a good mood.
- How important are friendly matches for the national team?
— They are needed. The main thing — not the name of the opponent, but the fact that we gather together, train. Andriy Shevchenko has the opportunity to use different football players and warm up in such matches. If you just come to the national team immediately for the official games and do not hold friendly matches, then we will not succeed. Such matches are needed, and we will also try to achieve the maximum result in them in order to properly prepare for the matches in the League of Nations.