Henrich Mkhitaryan: Very serious and hard play is expected to take place

The Armenian national soccer team will play with the Italian team in the framework of World soccer championship selection tomorrow. Our players are in Armenia and preparing. Henrich Mkhitaryan from Donetsk’s Shakhtior is in Armenia too. Even though the team’s schedule is very tight, 168 Hours was able to interview Henrich.

-What mood do you have before the play?

-Mood is always good, and attitude is always positive. All we are coming to play in the national team in order to win and make our people happy.

-A while ago you used to play for the Shakhtior against Juventus. Most of their players are going to play with the team of Italy on November 12. Which of them is more dangerous than others?

-I would not like to separate anyone because every team is strong due to a team play. If someone is not there, another one may substitute and the team will be still strong. However, all players in Italy’s team are at a higher level. As for the entire team, I think they are very strong and a serious play is expected to take place.

-In Armenia people believe that our team can win the Italians. The only group that does not believe is bookmakers, who are evaluating Armenia’s victory rate at 9. What would you say about this?

-I don’t want to say anything because all plays start with 0-0 and both of them have equal chances to win. It is a wrong thing when people listen to bookmakers and draw conclusions. I don’t care about those estimations and all of us go to the stadium to play and win.

-Last year Armenia’s team did an excellent job and now people are expecting a great play from them. Is this a psychological pressure on you?

-No, there is no pressure. Every soccer player feels that responsibility as they believe they have to play with honor. We are doing our best to reach the success of last year and even do more. Of course there are cases when you lose or the play is not success. But this is normal too because in sports there may be victories and losses too. I can say that we have had hard times but have been able to overcome with dignity.

-Sargis Hovsepyan will not be with you. Will it affect the team play?

-The absence of every player may affect the team play, especially when you have played with him for a long time and have got used to his play. But in life time comes when people have to leave this occupation and do something else. We are very grateful to Sargis Hovsepyan for being able to stay with the national team for twenty years and help all players who joined the team. When I learnt the news that he was leaving I was very sad because he is a legend for the team, the eldest player in the team and my good friend. But we have to continue playing and be able to win without Sargis Hovsepyan too.

-Let’s speak about Shakhtior now. Currently you are one of Ukraine’s best attackers with 14 goals. Usually when 11-meter shootouts are entrusted to attackers in order to help them to strengthen their positions even more. But in the recent times the Shakhtior used to give the 11-meter shootouts to Brazilian players (by the way, they were missing the shoot). What do you think about it? From aside it gives us a feeling of jealousy.

-I cannot say anything because I am not the decision-maker. It is up to the trainer to decide who has the shootouts. As for those 14 goals, it is not a record. The record was 22 goals. Of course I have a desire to hit that record too but in soccer the most important thing is the team play and contributing to the victory of your team.

-There were rumors that Arsenal wanted to make an agreement with you.

-I have no information because it does not concern me personally. The club may have news or receive offers. Personally I have not receives such offer. I want to play in the Shakhtior as much as they want to see me there.

-Your agent said recently that several European clubs were interested in you.

-I am not an agent…

-But in some Russian media sources a man named Demitri Seldyuk was introduced as your agent and spoke an opinion about possible transfer.

-I don’t know. Who is he? I don’t have an agent and I am not going to have one either. I don’t need that. I don’t want to have an agent who may use my name every time. I prefer to prove with my work that I can do it and be good without an agent too.

-I have read somewhere that you speak six languages. Is that true?

-Not six but five – Armenian, Russian, English, Portuguese and French.

-Do you communicate easily in all those languages?

-Yes.