Shakhtar Donetsk has become the flag of Ukraine. His presence in the Champions League, in the middle of the war with Russia, is a source of pride and acquires a patriotic tint. “I am proud of this team. For me they are heroes,” boasts Darijo Srna (Metkovic, 1982).
I am proud of this team. For me they are heroes
The right winger, now reconverted to Shakhtar’s Director of Football, relives for MARCA the human and soccer drama that the third war of his life brings. “In 1991 in Croatia, in 2014 in Donetsk and now throughout Ukraine,” he says.
The beginning of the war/Russian invasion caught Shakhtar with the ‘changed foot’. “The beginning was a disaster. We were in kyiv with the team and we took care of organizing everything, especially with the foreign players. Some left by car, others by train…”, remember.
The beginning of the war was a disaster. We took care of organizing everything: some players left by car, others by train…
A scene that, inevitably, is reminiscent of what happened eight years ago, when they had to leave Donetsk for ‘The Dombs War’. In fact, its stadium, the Donbass Arena, belonging to the UEFA lite category, was destroyed by bombing.
“In 2014 we had to leave Donetsk, our home, our stadium, our sports city and we have our fans all over the world. We move to kyiv, and as we adjust, another war begins. It’s hard to explain our life from then to today,” Srna laments.
In 2014 we had to leave Donetsk, our home, our stadium, our sports city and we have our fans all over the world.
A forced exile that, unfortunately, is experiencing a new episode. “We are a team without direction [sede fija] and this is the most painful. We have played in Lepolis, in Odessa, in Jrkov, now the Champions League in Warsaw… My daughter calls me and I tell her that one day I am in kyiv, the next in London… Sometimes I wake up and I don’t know where I am.” Shakhtar Donetsk director of football comments.
We are a team without direction and this is the most painful. We have played in Lepolis, in Odessa, in Jrkov, now the Champions League in Warsaw… Sometimes I wake up and I don’t know where I am
mermaid earrings
The day to day of the war forces Shakhtar to take extreme precautions. “On Saturday we played against Metalist, the alarms sounded warning of a possible attack and we had to return to the locker room to resume the game 15 minutes later. We have to change hotels, buses, we train with sirens, we travel with sirens… This is our life today and we have to accept it. We must be an example, just as the Army is for us. We play for our fans and for Ukraine.” the Croatian points out.
We must be an example, just as the Army is for us. We play for our fans and for Ukraine
There are more. The trip to face Real Madrid in the Champions League at the Bernabu becomes a real odyssey:“Hoy [por ayer] we train, then we have 7-8 hours by bus to Poland because it is not allowed to fly from Ukraine and then another 4 by plane”. The Director of Football praises Shakthar’s strength:“We have a difficult life, but no player at any time has complained or said he is tired.”
What hurts Srna the most, however, is the lack of protection. “UEFA, through Ceferin, did everything they could to help us and Ukrainian football. FIFA, on the other hand, destroyed us. He did not protect us at any time. If Real Madrid, Sevilla, Barcelona or Bayern were in our situation, I’m sure they would have helped them quickly. We are also a team and we have given a lot to European football in the last 20 years. I would like someone from FIFA to come to Ukraine, live with us and other teams and feel what it is like to live with sirens and bombs.”
FIFA, on the other hand, destroyed us. He did not protect us at any time. If Real Madrid, Sevilla, Barcelona or Bayern were in our situation, I’m sure they would have helped them quickly.
start from -14
The complaint of Srna, who played 536 games, scored 49 goals and distributed 121 assists during his time at Shakhtar, it has its raison d’être in FIFA’s decision to ‘liberate’ foreigners as a result of the war.
“We had 14 foreigners whose market value was between 150 and 200 million euros and they were allowed to go out on loan without freezing their contracts. Solomon and Tete had a year and a half of contract, they have gone to Fulham and Lyon and when they return they will only have six months left to be free. This is unacceptable,” he explains.
We had 14 foreigners whose market value was between 150 and 200 million euros and they were allowed to go out on loan without freezing their contracts
“Everyone said he was going to help usthat they don’t want our players for free… but there are teams that have taken advantage of our situation. Nothing happens. Life is long and it’s like a boomerang, you throw it and it comes back,” warns Srna.
The Brazilian ‘Armada’ (Tete, Neres, Dodo, Marcos Antonio, Fernando, Ismaily…) soon left the Ukraine. “We may have lost a certain identity, but Mudryk is better than all the Brazilians who have passed through here”, indicates Shakhtar’s Director of Football. Only one foreigner, Lassina Traor, chose to stay: Lassina Traor. “I spoke to her mother and she told him: ‘You must be with Shakhtar at this difficult time.’ He deserves all my admiration and respect.”
The reconstruction was not easy: “No one believed that we would play again, we did not know what would happen to the teams… Well, we have lost 14 players, we only keep 2-3 starters compared to a year ago… but we have created a good team, very young, with a coach [Igor Jovicevic] very ambitious. In the 1-6 against Metalist, for the first time in 20 years, we fielded 11 Ukrainians from the start and 90% came from our Academy.”
In the 1-6 against Metalist, for the first time in 20 years, we fielded 11 Ukrainians from the start and 90% came from our Academy
Un ‘renacer’ unimaginable son Rinat Akhmetov. “We have an exemplary president. He had his businesses in Donetsk and then suffered an attack in Maripol. He has lost more than anyone, between 10 and 15 billion… but Shakhtar is his passion, his life, his family. He pays wages on time, calls us every day to see how the team is doing… I’m proud to have worked with him for over 25 years,” suggests Srna.
We have an exemplary president. He had his business in Donetsk and then he was attacked in Maripol. He has lost more than anyone, between 10 and 15,000 million… but Shakhtar is his passion, his life, his family
A spectacular restart
Shakhtar, after the break forced by the war, has returned in a big way. He is the leader in the league with 13 points out of a possible 15 and debuted in the Champions League beating RB Leipzig (1-4).
“When it was announced that we were entering the group stage directly, many people expected that we would not score any points. ‘He is not the same Shakhtar as before,’ they said. He has the logic of it. We lost 14 players and our technical staff, but even so, we are in the Champions League and we have four points. Going to the round of 16 would be incredible, but it’s difficult”, boasts Srna proudly before listing the new virtues of the ‘miners’: “This team has character and courage. We fear no one.”
When it was announced that we were entering the group stage directly, many people expected that we would not score any points. We lost 14 players and our technical staff, but even so, we are in the Champions League and we have four points
Let Real Madrid take good note: “He’s the favourite, but we want to show our football and, I insist, we have nothing to lose.”
Srna, to finish, sends an optimistic message: “We hope to return to Donetsk. We believe. We will continue to fight for it… and we will win.”
Close friend of Luka Modric
A total of 83 matches with Croatia endorse the partnership that Modric and Srna formed on the pitch. “Luka is my friend. I don’t know whether to play, but we’ll see each other in Madrid, for sure”, slide Darijo.
The possible loss of Modric provokes an internal debate in Srna: “Sportingly it would be good for Shakhtar, but it makes me sad because I would like our footballers to be able to play against Luka. He is the best in the world and you can learn a lot from him.”
Modric, at 37, the age at which Srna retired, continues to make magic: “5-6 years ago, at a dinner, I already told him: ‘You’re like good wine: the ‘older’, the better and more expensive. Luka is a phenomenon, an example for everyone. There is only one like him. Croatia is a totally different team with Modric and without him.”
