- Alexander Alexandrovich, the last fight of your team in the championship, against "Veres", was the key in the fight for a place in European competition?.

- We did not win four fights in a row, so we strongly tuned the guys to a successful outcome in a meeting with Veres. As a result, as we predicted, the match turned out to be difficult, and we are glad that we were able to take three points. Rivne team for Mariupol has always been an uncomfortable opponent, which the Azov people did not play for three years.

However, I do not think that this match was the key in the fight for the fifth place. Of course, the inhabitants are our competitors. But next to us in the table Zarya, a little more points in Vorskla. Until the end of the championship teams will play five more matches, and we will have to meet with Veres in Lviv. Therefore, the whole struggle lies ahead. Now our main task is to achieve success in meetings with our direct competitors.

- If you analyze the spring period, what matches Mariupol failed?.

- It was especially insulting to lose points with Alexandriya and with Dynamo Kiev. In Poltava, we lost to Vorskla - 0: 1, had moments, but Fortune smiled at Poltava. In Alexandria created more scoring opportunities, in the game with Dynamo luck could also add positive emotions.

- On April 18 Mariupol will play in the semi-final of the Cup of Ukraine against the Miner. Do you bet on this tournament?.

- Cup matches must be taken out of bounds. Here its self-giving, intrigue, which, sometimes, ends with unexpected results. Of course, we would like to present a surprise, but we understand that we will play against the top club and the favorite of the tournament. We will try to play in literate, organized football, not to hang up. Mariupol will have rotation, because leased football players will not be able to enter the field, we also understand this. Therefore, we will also consider the composition.

- In the championship you lost to Shakhtar with the score 0: 3. What do you want to change in the cup game to improve the result?.

- In that fight we could not save the ball. Quick transition from defense to attack, we also did not come out. There was not enough speed in the attacking actions. In the cup game we will try to correct these moments. We want more positional attacks, but we understand that there will not be enough speed due to problems with the composition in the duel against the miners.

- What was interesting about Shakhtar's recent match versus Dynamo?.

- Noted some points. Dynamo used high and tight pressure, to which Shakhtar, perhaps, was not quite ready. But playing in such a manner is not easy, we need the complete dedication of every football player. And if the players of Shakhtar, who possess high skill, will come out from under pressure, there will be problems in our gates. Therefore, while the plan for the cup match, we have not decided.

We understand that Shakhtar will want to be rehabilitated in the Cup for the defeat in the championship. Our task is not to let the miners show their best qualities and, if possible, find their chance in counterattacks, in standard positions. It's dangerous to play open football, but you do not want to put a "bus" at your gate.

- In addition to problems with leased football players who will not play in the Cup, do Azovians have other personnel questions?.

- Yes, the situation is complicated. Khudzhamov, Boriachuk will not be ready yet. But I am glad that Kiryukhantsev has recovered. In any case, we will strive to show a decent game against the backdrop of a strong opponent, so that we are not ashamed before our fans.

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