“Kornienko managed to play in a difficult position”

Shakhtar CEO Serhiy Palkin commented on the results of signing a new contract with defender Viktor Kornienko.

– First of all, I would like to congratulate Viktor, because for a young man, a Ukrainian from our Academy, entering the Shakhtar base is quite an important step forward. I am very happy for him. Why? Because it is very difficult to start playing in this position at our club. This position requires many qualities and characteristics that, fortunately, Kornienko possesses. Not only do you need to have two hearts to play in this position, you also need to have speed, technique, be able to defend and also attack. So this position is very demanding. Of course, to succeed in games like Real Madrid or Inter, you must also have a high level of psychology. This helps to cope with the pressure that is in the Champions League. It is good that Victor faces this, he is successful both from a psychological point of view and from the point of view of quality and level of play. I am very happy to have signed a five-year contract with Kornienko and I would like to wish him only good luck and growth in our club.

– Even last season he played for Mariupol, and only three months for Shakhtar’s first team. Can you imagine that a young player would come and become the best footballer in September and show himself at such a high level against Real Madrid and Inter?

– We knew about its level, we knew what characteristics it has. But the point is that we also knew other footballers who we tried for this position. They were unsuccessful, Victor did. For us, this is not so much a breakthrough, it tells us that it is generally difficult to enter the Shakhtar base. Regardless of who we are talking about: a graduate of the Academy or the Brazilians we buy. This is quite a difficult and responsible position. And what it did, it takes away a lot of questions, makes our lives easier and improves the quality of the game. We are happy that everything turned out like this. He showed himself in the toughest matches with strong opponents, it’s hard to imagine a bigger test.

– Many scouts were present at the match with Inter. Perhaps there have already been some proposals for Kornienko?

– First, it seems early to me. If Shakhtar leaves the group, there will be a completely different story, then the scouts and the clubs will see in this a systematic approach, a systemic work not only of the whole team and the whole club, but also of individuality on the field. It seems to me that everything is ahead. And that there are proposals in this regard, I think, is not ambiguous.

– In the match against Inter, there were four Shakhtar graduates, more than 30%. How important is it to you?

– I read the information that we have played against 7 people under the age of 21 – in the history of the Champions League, this seems to be the second time. Even at this moment he says that the young people who are in the composition today, during this period of problems, the base was entrusted with the coronavirus and they showed a very good side. I’m sure we have a pretty serious reserve and future.