Yegor Nazaryna: The first week of pre-season is tough but essential

Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Yegor Nazaryna has opened up about the early days of the team’s summer training camp, admitting the workload has been intense but crucial. “Honestly, these have been difficult days. We just came back from holiday and immediately started doing two or three sessions a day – a lot of fitness work, a lot of running. It’s not easy, but we’re trying to get into shape as quickly as possible,” Nazaryna said. The 27-year-old explained that the schedule combines both physical and tactical work. Mornings are mostly dedicated to conditioning, while evenings focus on ball work and tactical drills. He also spoke about the standard pre-season tests: “In the first week we do the lactate test – it’s really tough. Apart from that, it’s just running. I’m satisfied with my test result, but you can always do better. My fitness level isn’t optimal yet – it’s only the first week. I hope to be in peak condition closer to the start of the championship.” Nazaryna detailed head coach Arda Turan’s demands: “Right now he wants us to run, run and run some more. The first camp is about building the fitness foundation that will carry us through the entire season. So it’s been an important week – we’ve worked hard. But in the evening we also work with the ball and focus on tactics, which is equally important.” The midfielder drew comparisons to last summer’s preparation: “I think we built a solid base last year. We played a lot of matches – eight in European qualifiers, if I remember correctly – but that foundation carried us through the season. As a result, we were well prepared and, in my opinion, no team outran us physically. So, again, this work is extremely important.” He also highlighted the recovery process: “We have great staff – masseurs, physios. Everything is available: cold water, massages, various procedures. Recovery is well taken care of, and we have enough time for it.” When asked about targets for the upcoming season, Nazaryna was clear: “We are Shakhtar, so our ambitions are always the highest: win every tournament we compete in – the league, the Ukrainian Cup – and go as far as possible in the Champions League. I believe we can do it, and that’s what we are preparing for. My personal goal is to help the team achieve positive results as much as I can.”