RAFFAEL

RAFFAEL « I COULD HAVE WORKED WITH BLOKHIN IN 2008»INTERVIEW: DMITRY KOVALENKO, FOOTBALL.UA

The club president has often said Dynamo newcomers has not adapted to the team. How long do you think you still need to feel completely settled?

The more I play, the more minutes I have on the field, the better and quicker I can integrate myself. In any case, I gain confidence every day in the team. Ukraine is very different from Brazil and Germany, football as well. It may sounds corny, but I need “this time” to fully adapt myself to the Ukrainian championship, learn all its details and features. Outside the football field, all is fine - for my wife, my two kids, and of course for me. And you know, when things around the pitch go well, things on the pitch go well too.

The German press wrote you also had offers from other clubs...

Yes, that’s right, but now, talking about that makes no sense. I wanted and accepted the challenge to defend Dynamo colors and play here, in Ukraine, a football which quickly and constantly develops.

How was the first contact within the team? Where there any problem by communicating?

Naturally, at the beginning, I got closer with the Brazilians because we speak same language and that makes everything much easier; but there are also other players with whom I have already formed a nice friendship, like Mehmedi (we played together at FC Zurich) and Niko Kranjcar, for instance. Besides the language barrier, there are no problems and I really want to learn Russian.

How did the team react to coach’s change?

This is a natural process. We are professional players and should be ready for this kind of changes within the team.

«WHEN THINGS AROUND THE PITCH GO WELL, THINGS ON

THE PITCH GO WELL TO»

What did you already know about Oleg Blokhin before his arrival?Certainly, I have never met him personally, but heard much about him. It is well known that he was a brilliant striker, and that he has been doing a good job as a coach.

Is it true that in 2008 you could have gone to the Russian club FC Moscow, headed at that time by Oleg Blokhin?

Yes, that’s true. I got an offer from FC Moscow, but my agent and I decided to sign with Hertha Berlin.

Many football experts agree that Hertha and Dyanmo play similar football. What can you say about this?I definitely don’t agree. Those are two completely different styles. For instance, in Germany, they are first concentrated on playing a good defense. Here, in Ukraine, the game is quite dynamic; we pass the ball more often, and midfielders are also formed to be attackers. I am not saying that Dynamo does not work on the defense, but that we are looking for same efficiency both defending and attacking.

What are your first impressions of the Ukrainian League?Surprised. The level of Ukrainian championship is quite high. So far nothing but good experiences, and what will happen - we'll see.

In an interview, you said that the contract with Dynamo could be the penultimate in your career. So you already have decided where are you going to finish your career?Perhaps they twisted my words because I never said that. I don’t even think about it! At the moment, I am only focused in my current contract and fully concentrated on defending Dynamo colors for the upcoming years.

You will probably agree that Shakhtar Donetsk is now the best team of Ukraine. What's missing to catch them up?That’s right. Shakhtar is actually the strongest team in Ukraine, and so for the past three years. It is a very experienced team. But we can make it! We have to work hard, that’s true, but we can catch them up.

GERMANY VS UKRAINE«THOSE ARE TWO

COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STYLES»

PREMIER LIHA«THE LEVEL IS QUITE HIGH.

SO FAR NOTHING BUT GOOD EXPERIENCES, AND WHAT

WILL HAPPEN - WE'LL SEE»

After the match Dynamo – Mönchengladbach, were you able to talk to your former coach Lucien Favre? What did he tell you about the game?

Both in the first and second game, after the final whistle, we talked just a bit, nothing special. We shaked our hands, greeted and wished each other best of success for the upcoming encounters and the future.

Your brother had a very good start new season and earned a spot in the starting lineup with Hertha. So, your care contributed to this?

I do not think so. Ronny has won this place because he started to show his enormous potential and that all has nothing to do with me. His good start and better performance is just the beginning! My brother can seriously improve and perform even better.

We would like to see your brother at Dynamo Kyiv. Do you think it would be helpful for the team?

Of course I think he would help the team, and I am not saying this just because he is my brother, but because of the football qualities he shows on the field. It would be nice to play together again in the same team.

In Hertha, you played with two Ukrainians: Andrey Voronin and Nikita Rukavytsya. What can you say about these players?

Andrey and Nikita are two great football players! My memories are exclusively associated with success! In the 2008-09 season, together with Andrey, we fought to win the Bundesliga; and two years later, with Nikita, we won the 2. Bundesliga.

You are already for three months in Dynamo. Who is the team leader on and off the field?

Without any doubt, Alexander Shovkovskiy, a great captain both on and off the field•

ABOUT RONNY«HIS GOOD START AND

BETTER PERFORMANCE IS JUST THE BEGINNING!»

INTERVIEW: DMITRY KOVALENKOFOOTBALL.UA OCTOBER 2012

THE LEADER«ALEXANDER SHOVKOVSKIY,

A GREAT CAPTAIN BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD»