“The head coach of “Epicenter” gave a comment about today’s match of the group round of the Champions League”, — write: sport.ua
– Serhii Mykolayovych, what are your expectations from the match between the Donetsk team and the French?
– I watched the game between Brest and Rennes. “Brest” won this match on the road with a score of 1:2. The French have a very decent team. The only thing that gives hope is the fact that “Rennes” created a number of moments in this meeting. “Rennes” should not have lost this match, creating a lot of chances. But one must understand that the Champions League is an extraordinary event for Brest. And it is worth adding that “Brest” is playing in full swing in the French championship, while “Shakhtar” is only involved in the second half of the season. Donetsk will play Champions League matches this week and next, with the UPL starting three weeks after that.
– What is the most important thing for Shakhtar in this upcoming match?
– We need to score points, because, for sure, this is one of the worst Euro seasons for Ukrainian teams. Previously, our teams reached the semifinals at the Euroarena.
– There was a season when “Dynamo”, “Shakhtar” and “Metalist” played in the 1/8 finals of the Europa League.
– Yes. And how many times “Shakhtar” went far! And in the Champions League, they played in the quarterfinals. “Dnipro” has reached the final of the Europa League! There have always been such achievements.
– What is the difference between this time and those years?
– “Dynamo” always focuses on local students, our Ukrainian football players. And “Shakhtar” has always emphasized foreigners, especially since the time of Lucescu. Now the situation has changed a little. Sudakov, Bondarenko, Kryskiv are key players of the Donetsk team.