“Brazilians want to see Shakhtar”

Director of the Selection Department of FC Shakhtar Jose Botu He shared his opinion on the Brazilian Olympic team and the perspectives of Dodo, Maicon, Marcos and Tete in its composition.

– José, what is the Brazilian Olympic team? Are these the most talented Brazilian players under 23?

– Yes. The Brazilian Olympic team is the second team in the country. It’s like the Ukrainian youth team. But for Brazilians, the confederation and Brazilian football in general, it is even more important than the second team, as there is a lot of attention to the Olympics. As we remember, 4 years ago in Rio with players like Neymar and Gabriel Jesus, he won the Olympic gold. Therefore, it is very important that any Brazilian player be part of this team, participate in the Olympic Games and win.

– How valued are the successes of this national team in Brazil and is it capable of winning the Olympics?

– Of course, this team is among the favorites, as it has great talents. In addition, each team can register 3 players over 23 years old, that’s why players like Neymar can participate there. But there is another very talented generation, born in 1997, 1999, 2000, where there are also many talents. Of course, the process did not start today, but last year, when the national team qualified for the Olympics. The Shakhtar players, Micon and Dodo, participated in the victorious South American tournament for the Brazilian Olympic team, and now there are two of our boys born in 2000, and this is in the base year 1997. Considering that there is a large selection of artists, the presence of our guys in the team is a good sign: they may participate in the Olympic Games in Tokyo next summer.

– Shakhtar has the highest representation in the Brazilian Olympic team – 4 players. What does this say and what do they think about it in Brazil itself?

– First of all, this speaks to a large amount of work done by the entire club as a whole, from the administration to the specialized breeders. And, of course, on the merit of the coach who develops the players to such a level. This fact is widely covered by the Brazilian press and television. The fact that Shakhtar (and not Liverpool, Real or Ajax) has the highest representation on the Olympic team, in my opinion, is very important for both our players and the club as a whole. Brazilians speak of Shakhtar as a club they want to see.

– Tete, Dodo, Marcos Antonio, Maicon. Give everyone a characterization.

– Let’s start with the defender. Dodo is an extreme defender, whose qualities are not so easy to find in the transfer market, as he has extraordinary speed, technique, solutions and advances every year. And along with this attack set, he defends himself well. I think that Dodo is very important for Brazil and he will be able to enter the national team in the near future. Finding such a player, especially in Brazil, is not easy. Maicon is a very thoughtful footballer. Although on the outside it does not seem to stand out in anything special. Yes, he has a good shot and the fans love his way of scoring goals. It is not particularly noticeable, because it does everything efficiently and comfortably, visually very simple and easy. As Johan Cruyff liked to say: “Playing is simple, the most difficult.” Micon is such an actor: he has great intelligence and he knows how to simplify the game, which is very important. Tete is an innate talent. He’s strong in martial arts, and here’s another thing: the ability to score and assist. Now this is very important in the transfer market. Many football fans sometimes do not even watch matches, but immediately turn to the statistics, and Tete is always in the first positions according to these indicators, which, by the way, is also very important from the point of view of the value of the player . Marcos is an extraordinary footballer for me. When you look at him, as they say, you are not going to give much: he is small and medium, but at the same time one of the smartest players I have ever seen! The first time I saw him was in U17 – it took me a minute to tell myself that this guy deserves attention. He is so good at his actions, he is perfect at anthropometry … By the way, she is not a problem for him. After the first external impression, the audience completely forgets about it. For me, Marcos is one of the most promising artists.

– Evaluate the chances of each of the four to play in the next matches with South Korea and Egypt. And which of them can already claim key roles on the Olympic team?

– We keep in touch with many mentors from the Brazilian Confederation. The process is being reformed and undergoing changes. For example, I talk to the current coach of the U23 team, André Jardin, and he sometimes asks me for points that are not always obvious when watching game videos. These contacts are mutually important for both Shakhtar and Brazilians. I am confident that all four will play. They may not be in the starting lineup for the next two games, but they will definitely come out. He told the guys that in Egypt they need to make the most of every minute in training and games to show that they are on this team for a reason. To join the main team at the Olympics next summer.