Zorya Luhansk midfielder Dejan Popara on adaptation to the team and the past season:
-Of course, we should have played better. We have everything to fight for the highest places. Somewhere we lacked stability, somewhere we lacked luck. We lost points, that's a fact. We will make sure that the next season is better for us.
-How did your adaptation to the team and our country go?
-It didn't take me long to adapt, everyone accepted me well and I was pleasantly surprised by this fact. As for Ukraine, it is a very beautiful and big country, which I like very much. I am happy to live in Kyiv.
-We have been at war for years. Is it possible to get used to frequent air raids?
- At first it was, so to speak, unusual. But, unfortunately, you get used to it, and now it's not a big problem for me.
-You can play on the field as a holding midfielder or a little higher up. Where do you feel more comfortable?
- I feel better in the holding midfield position because I've been playing in that position since the beginning, but of course I can also help in a position that is more towards the opponent's goal. The position is not a problem for me. The main thing is to help the team.
-What tasks did you set for yourself for this season?
- Undoubtedly, I repeat - to help the team be as good as possible in the table and adapt to the UPL.
-In your opinion, what did we lack to be higher in the table?
-Maybe we lacked stability somewhere. I think we have players who can help us to be higher. Unfortunately, this year we failed to get a place in the table that would allow us to represent our team in European competitions. I hope that we will be able to achieve this success next season.
I think we were unlucky somewhere. We should have won some games in which we were the favorites, but unfortunately it didn't work out the way we imagined.
-It's been a while since you've been in our team. What can you say about the UPL? What championship would you compare ours to?
- Ukraine has a powerful championship. Especially given the fact that the country is at war. I am satisfied with the quality of the league, and I hope it will be even better in the near future. As for comparisons with other leagues, I've only played in Bosnia, so it's hard for me to do that. Each league is special in its own way.
"Shakhtar and Dynamo are at a slightly higher level. "Oleksandriya had a very good season. All other clubs are more or less similar to each other. Everyone can beat everyone. This adds unpredictability.
-You have been called up to the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team for different ages. How difficult is it now to get into the national team and what do you think it takes?
- Yes, I went through the youth national teams of Bosnia. In my opinion, it is unrealistic to get into the national team at the moment, but I hope that I will succeed in the future.
-How does your vacation go?
- I usually spend my free days with my teammates from the Balkans and use the time to recover from the season.
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