The head coach of Donetsk Shakhtar, Marino Pušić, commented on the victory (1:1, penalties - 6:5) in the final Vbet Ukrainian Cup against Kyiv Dynamo.

"I have to describe the situation before the match as it is: there was a special pressure on our team. Describing the course of events in the match, I will say that the first half did not go in our favor. We conceded an unnecessary goal which had a certain psychological impact on the players. It's very important that we managed to regroup and turn the game around. The boys didn't give up and continued fighting. It's hard to play 120 minutes already for the third time in this cup competition, especially considering the full concentration required during the penalty shootout. But I believed in our strength and conveyed this belief to the players. I am very proud of my boys who beat a strong opponent today and deserve the highest praise for their effort and desire to fight until the end."

In fact, in 120-minute play, physical condition and concentration matter greatly. I believe that these factors were on our side today.

Refereeing is part of the game. At the beginning of the match, there were several episodes where I did not agree with the referee's decisions. There were a few fouls that, in my opinion, deserved more attention from the referee. However, I want to emphasize that when referees do their job well, I always try to thank them after the game. Today, I believe that the referee performed his duties competently. There were two or three very controversial moments that raised doubts, but what happened, happened.

Substituting Kawan Elias was a coaching intuition. I gave certain instructions to players coming on as substitutes and to him too. I am very happy for him because Kawan managed to add some energy to the team on the field. I want to highlight all the players who came on as substitutes. They deserve the highest praise, as they seamlessly integrated into the team's rhythm. Aliisson did well on his flank, and Viktor Tsukanov—a young player whom I put in a very stressful situation under high pressure—really is a gift for a player because this is the best moment for growth.

I am proud of both the starting players and those who came on as substitutes. They all deserve compliments today.

I want to emphasize that football is a game for fans whom I always enjoy seeing in the stands. They bring joy from the game. It was pleasant to take the penalty shootout near the Shakhtar support group. When the match goes into penalties, it's a very emotional moment. I am proud of how resolute and determined my players were. Many of them wanted to take penalties, so as a coach, I had to make decisions about who would shoot in what order.

We can truly be called kings of extra time, and we did indeed prepare for such a possible scenario. I am glad how we prepared and how the boys approached it," — said Marino Pušić.