BATE forward and vice-captain Vitali Radzionau talks to UEFA Magazine journalists.
- Well, first and
foremost, thank you for finding time to come and see us and willingly share
your opinions about BATE's chances in this new experience in the Champions
League, although it's actually the fourth
time. Firstly, I would like to know how you reacted to the draw and how you
evaluate the team's situation?
- In my opinion, the group that we fell into is fairly evenly
balanced without any outstanding favourites. Maybe you can speak about the
outsiders and I'd imagine that most people would point the finger at us in this
respect. Nevertheless, we firmly intend to
show ourselves and maybe surprise a lot of people on the international stage
with good results. Therefore, I have confidence in how our team and I have
confidence that it will work out for us.
- In your opinion,
what are the key matches in the group and which matches are you looking forward
to personally and why?
- Usually,
the key matches are the back-to-back matches, that is the away match followed
by the home match against one opponent. I can say this speaking from the experience
of previous group stages. Nevertheless, for our team, every match will be very
important and, to a certain extent, key, regardless of the opponent. We will
approach every specific match as if it is something special and we will try to
make ourselves and our supporters happy with our good, determined play, as well
as with good results.
- And personally, are you
looking forward to any match in particularfor different reasons?
- For
me, each game in the group stage will be equally important, interesting and
difficult and I am totally looking forward to each encounter and I will try to
show what I'm capable of.
- Tell us about the victory
against SK Slovan Bratislava in the final qualifying round; you scored a goal
in the return leg. How did you approach that fixture and what were your
emotions at the final whistle?
- Well,
I should probably have scored more against Slovan and, taking this into
account, we should understand that, in principle, we got a good result in
Bratislava but we could have even won. We had already played in front our home
supporters and we understood perfectly well that, at this stage with the
victory in this encounter, spurred on from the stands, we had achieved what we
wanted to. Everyone was happy, myself included, you can never get enough of the
victories we got in those matches. There was an unforgettable feeling of
celebration from that match.
- You've touched upon a very
important topic: the fans. In your opinion, what does it mean for Belarusian
supporters that you're in the Champions League? How does playing in the
tournament influence football in the country as a whole?
- Taking
into account last year, when we were unsuccessful in getting into the Champions
League, I think our supporters were longing for the group stages of a European
cup competition. The fact that we achieved this aim has a huge meaning for our
long-suffering supporters, who always come to matches, not only in the European
competitions but also in our league. At the same time, we need to take into
account that this year we have undergone some changes to the coaching staff.
The team is in a transition period and the success we've achieved on the
international stage is also important in terms of establishing this team.
Establishing it and looking to the future. From this point of view, of course
the victory against SK Slovan Bratislava was the most important, but not only
against Slovan, the previous matches were important as well against Debrecen
and the Albanian champions Skënderbeu, who we found very difficult. We fought
to the last drop getting that victory. So, everyone is happy that ultimately we
were able to complete the task we set ourselves and achieve our aim.
- Do the footballers feel added
pressure in connection with the fact that, in the Champions League, you're not
only representing BATE, but essentially the whole of Belarus.
- I
don't look at this question in this way, that I'm representing the whole of the
Belarus. For me, the important thing are the team's results and I'm sure that,
if we get these results, then all of Belarus will be happy. So, I'm trying to
concentrate on the team's results. That I might bring someone happiness by
beating the best teams in Europe, I think, is an added success to this. So, in
fact, there's already pressure and responsibility without this. The feeling
that we should perform in European competitions for ourselves and ourselves
only was inspiration enough and made us give everything that we had over the
qualifying rounds. And again, ultimately, the feeling of the victory we
achieved against Slovan was just unforgettable, in terms of the satisfaction it
brought us because the pressure was already there.
- You play up front; what
responsibility do you feel for the team and what aims do you set yourself as a
striker?
- Concerning
the European competitions, then our club already has some experience of playing
in them, but nevertheless not to the extent to set ourselves large, grandiose
aims. So, for me, there aren't any of these theoretical ambitions in European
competitions. I only focus on the results of the team and I think that all the
guys in the team have this mentality, that is: focusing on the team's game and
the team's results. I think that, thanks to this, we have achieved what we have
achieved today: getting into the Champions League group stage.
- Can you express, as a
percentage, the value of a forward with respect to a modern football team? How
important are they compared to other people in the team?
- I
believe that the percentage would be 20% or 30%; the forward gives confidence
to the team. It depends on how well he can take his opportunities and, at the
same time, how effectively he knows how to play within the team. That is, how
well he plays in other aspects of the game.
- Throughout your footballing
career, starting from school, have you always played in attack or did you
change positions?
- No
coach that I have worked with has constantly rotated my position; in general
I've always been played at centre forward or as the second striker.
- Have would you characterise
your own style of play?
- I'm
a player who tries with all his might to get the ball and waits for his
opportunity, like a beast! And he's ready to take his chance!
-
How did you start your footballing
education? Who opened the door?
- It
happened completely accidentally. I was studying at a normal school, I was in a
lesson and a coach from a local sporting school came by and suggested that we
started playing. At the start, the whole class went but, step by step
naturally, the numbers were narrowed down. So, that was how then, by the
traditional route, I fell into football.
- Who was your footballing idol
in childhood, if there was one.
- I
didn't have any idols in particular; there were many footballers. Of those that
have always stayed in my memory, I would say Ronaldo, the Brazilian one, and
Andrey Shevchenko. For me, it was in their genetics, they were born as
strikers.
- What do you feel at that
second when you see that the ball has hit the back of the net.
- Elation,
happiness... It's an unbeatable feeling, but also it's a moment in a game that
has a significant importance, in terms of the competition and the opposition.
In other words, the level of the encounter with an opponent. The higher the
level, the more joy you will naturally get from scoring.
- In principle, how important to
you is the number of goals you score?
- It's
important and... in general the number of goals that a forward scores is
evidence of his ability; they are his qualifications. So , the higher the
number, the higher the level of the footballer. Therefore, and I'm not saying
anything out of the ordinary here, I strive to score more goals. But again,
this is a secondary priority to achieving the team's aims.
- You've said that throughout
your career you've tended to play up front, but throughout this time who
influenced your development as a forward the most?
- Do
you mean a coach or a player?
- Of course, it could be some
episode, but probably a coach or a playing partner. Some factor that shaped you
as a forward and shaped who you are as a player. How did it happen?
- Honestly,
it's difficult for me to identify one person. For example, I believe that on my
path I've met a lot of good people and good coaches. They all, to certain
extents, have influenced my development and my establishment as a footballer.
So, I am very happy to have been lucky enough to take this path, on which I've
met a large number of good people. Really good people who helped me and who
continue to help me in my professional and personal development.
- What other important tasks are
there for you on the pitch, alongside scoring goals?
- Taking
part in ball rotation, i.e. interacting with the team, and, of course, build-up
to goalscoring changes. This can be by freeing up space for my playing partners.
When you get to this elite level of football, everyone has their role and, of
course, attacking players have to come to the fore.
- You played in the victorious
match against Bayern Munich two years ago; you even scored a goal. You won that
game 3-1. What do you remember of that evening and how can the experience of
that huge victory helped the team to achieve new victories now?
- Summing
it up in a few words, it was very significant day for the history of the club,
in fact, and for the professional growth of each player and coach. Speaking
with people after that game, I realised after a while that the city stayed
awake practically all night, celebrating our victory and our success. Everybody
was made happy by that event. So, at that moment on the day of the match or
just after the match, some footballers didn't understand the meaning of this
match to the people and our fans. But after some time, we understood that we'd
achieved a success that would be remembered for a long time. So, I am very
happy that I had a significant role in this match.
- You've touched upon another
very important fact. Has the mentality in the club changed as a result of this
victory? Is there now the feeling that you can beat the best teams in the
world?
- Yes,
there was a lot of euphoria at that time when people started to predict things
about us and we tried to show our abilities in the following matches against
great teams and great players. However, the following matches showed us that we
weren't ready yet to compete at that level. And again, the experience we
accumulated over that time has, I think, stood us in good stead.
- What does playing in the
Champions League mean to you and what do you feel on matchday?
- I
can say that on matchday there's a constant feeling of celebration. It doesn't
even matter if you're alone or in a hotel for an away match or if you're
playing someone at home. When we travel to the stadium, the feeling of a
celebration intensifies even more. And... of course, it's an unbeatable feeling,
which is hard to somehow put into words to make it understood to an ordinary
person. I think you need to actually play in one of these matches in order to feel
it and understand it. Again, we haven't yet got really used to these events, so
I think that for us these days are hugely important. Perhaps for the
footballers who often play in European competitions, these matches don't bring
this surge of emotion any more, but for us these matches are unique. Although
I've experienced six of these matches!
- Have you found out something new about yourself,
thanks to Champions League matches?
- No,
I haven't yet managed to!
- What are the strong points of the current BATE site?
What do you need to do to surprise the public?
- I think that in comparison to
last year... our team is more driven and at the same we understand better the
coaches' instructions. This is a big positive, which I believe our team
possesses. So, I think that thanks to this unity and thanks to the fact that
everyone will give everything on the pitch, we can get some results. Results
that may even surprise the European footballing community. I, at least, believe
in this.