It would be better for Henrikh Mkhitaryan to play in Spain or Germany – retired Russian footballer

By Vera Martirosyan

“I believe the English [Premier] League is not for [Armenian national football team and Ukraine’s FC Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder] Henrikh Mkhitaryan.” Retired Russian international, 1994 World Cup Golden Shoe winner, and FC Dynamo Kyiv former striker Oleg Salenko told this to NEWS.am Sport.  

Mkhitaryan scored his 22nd goals in the current season of the Ukrainian Premier League, and he is close to breaking a new record. What would you say about his game this season?

And he is not even a forward, but rather a midfielder. Henrikh completely devotes himself to the match. He is the only player who lives in the sports facility of the club. It will not be too hard for Henrikh to score several more goals.   

They say Liverpool is interested in him. What would you say about this?

There may be such news. Now, he is at a level that such teams can be interested in him. But I believe the English [Premier] League is not the one [for him]. It would be better for him to play either in Spain or in Germany, where they play more on passes.    

And what would you advise him?

He can stay [at Shakhtar] for one more year. But when a player achieves great success in a team, there is a desire to change the league. He can always come back 

When Mkhitaryan was just moving to Ukraine from Armenia, could you have predicted that he would become the top scorer of the Ukrainian league? 

When they select a player at Shakhtar, they study him carefully; there is nothing unusual here. The most difficult [thing] is to adapt to the team; [and] he succeeded in this. 

What is the secret to his success? 

He is both diligent and talented. He also has speed. In English football, however, they play more technically, with thinking. That is why I believe he should not go there.

Follow NEWS.am SPORT on Facebook, Twitter and Telegram