Patrick van Leeuwen: The lads should have played without undue pressure - more aggressively, with a desire to make things happen

Patrick van Leeuwen, head coach of Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih, commented on the friendly match against Shakhtar Donetsk, which ended in a 0:3 defeat.

- Patrick, today Kryvbas lost 0:3 to Shakhtar. What are the main takeaways from this friendly match?

- We didn't have a scheduled league match, and we learned that Shakhtar also had a break in their schedule. The team managers got in touch to organize a game. The opponent expressed a desire to play us and host the match at their training base at the Emily Resort. It was a good option for us.

Yes, it involved a long journey, but when you have the chance to play against Shakhtar with the squad and the young players currently at our disposal, you simply have to seize that opportunity and gain experience. In the first half, we played somewhat tentatively and apprehensively. Before the match, we emphasized to the players that making mistakes is acceptable; the most important thing is to give their all on the pitch.

- To what extent did the team execute the game plan you had outlined beforehand?

- We conceded goals, even though I wanted the lads to play more freely and openly, without fear of attacking. We created chances in both the first and second halves. However, I believe we should have played more aggressively. This applies especially to the players who are striving to prove to the coaching staff that they possess the qualities needed to compete in the Ukrainian Premier League. That was precisely the main idea behind this friendly match.

- Today, Kryvbas played without the players called up to their national teams. To what extent did this affect the team's structure and quality of play?

- The squad was significantly younger, as different players took the field - including some who hadn't yet seen action in official matches. It was a great opportunity for the coaching staff to test them in a real-game scenario. Of course, the absence of national team players impacts the game, but since we train daily within a unified system, every player needs to understand their role on the pitch and give their all.

- The second goal resulted from an unfortunate error: an own goal by Pidhurskyi following a pass to Khoma. What is your take on that incident?

- It was an unlucky moment. Khoma should have signaled the defender not to play that pass back - that’s one option - or the defender shouldn't have tried to control the ball the way he did. Let’s just say it’s a valuable lesson for both Denys and Bohdan so they avoid making similar mistakes in the future.

Media of FC "Kryvbas" Kryvyi Rih