Henrikh Mkhitaryan: "As you grow older, your tastes change."

Shakhtar’s top scorer of the current season gave an extensive interview to Vesti newspaper. FC Shakhtar press office presented Henrikh’s quotes from his communication with the newspaper man.

On the performance record in the league

- Yeah, I'm not a pronounced forward, but our team play attacking football, and we have to spend a lot of time in the opponents’ box. So I, as a second striker, could score so many goals. But, of course, credit for this goes to the whole team and my teammates.

On the midfielders’ high performance

- It's often the result of strikers’ work who open up, create open spaces for their teammates. The same is true of Shakhtar - for me a lot of spaces were cleared by Seleznyov, Devic and Adriano.

About the “coolest” goal scored

- I think that’s my 23rd goal I scored this season. For me, it’s been the most important and the hardest goal. I was looking forward to scoring it could not score for three rounds, and it gave me more confidence and peace of mind. Now it's all done, the record's been broken, so I can continue to work without any stress.

About how Shakhtar could have played against Borussia if Ukraine had had good fields

- Then, perhaps, a break in the league season would have been shorter. Still, three months without official games is too much. No friendlies can fully prepare you for playing such opponents as Borussia. The necessary pressure and the Champions League atmosphere are missing. We lost a lot in that period of time. Had the break been shorter or nonexistent, we would have played much better against Borussia. I consider the scoreline to be just an irregularity. It’s true that there have been reasons for such a major defeat. But if we play ten games against them now, then we won’t lose in at least nine of them. Let alone the score of 0-3.

About similarity between his style of play and that of world stars

- I can’t see myself from outside and can’t assess myself. It is better to ask about this the experts who can really compare the game of different players.

On his temperament

- I am both hot-tempered and cold, and warm. In different ways. It happens that lose my temper and become hotheaded. Sometimes, on the contrary - I am very calm and reasonable.

About whether Shakhtar will get stronger through participation in the CIS league

- I think so, because we will play strong teams only. And every game will be like a final. With such competition, of course, we will get even stronger.

About the Dream Team

- At different age, I was rooting for different teams. Growing up, I often changed my preferences. Before, I did not like Bayern Munich - now I really like them. Same story with Barcelona. As you grow older, your tastes change. And there are no such teams, whose only name would send me into raptures.

On transfer rumours and possible move to another club

- To be honest, I do not pay any attention to it at all. Now I'm Shahtar player now, and my thoughts are with this club. I think only about how to help the team win in the remaining matches of the season. What is written about me is the business of those who write. If there are some real offers - let then address the club, and let the club decide on it.