Shakhtar head coach Igor Jovicevic spoke about the UCL group stage draw, meeting with Real Madrid, favourites in the calendar and work at the transfer market.

– What were your first impressions after the draw? Thoughts are material. You wanted to see Real Madrid as the opponent, didn’t you?
– My whole life is connected with Real Madrid. Obviously God wanted me to feel the Santiago Bernabeu once again. Two years ago we have played there vs Real Madrid Castilla, but usually we played at Deportivo Sport Campus. A lot of people I know are still working there: Emilio Butragueno, ambassador of the team and my former partner, Raul Gonzalez heading the second Real team. Many good friends who are still working there. I will be happy to see them once again.

– You probably follow the LaLiga, don’t you?
– Sure, Real is definitely a champion. This is a grand and the best club in the world. Everyone wants to play against them and test own skills on their level. Even to play at this stadium is a great sports adventure. Leipzig and Celtic have completely different team profiles by style. This is where we will look for our chance. It could be worse, it could be better. For example, Group C is a “death group” or just look at Paris group. We will play from match to match. We have to improve our form to be ready for the Champions League level. We are proud to represent Ukraine at the biggest sport event in the world, that is, the UEFA Champions League. It is very important for us and we come to the UCL with strong motivation.

– Shakhtar got into the group where there were two teams already. What were the first thoughts? Did you think about the tactics against each opponent?
– We will think about this when the time is right. You know all teams in the Champions League and you are among the best 32. Again, this is a great indicator and every day I understand more and more that I am in a great club. Also you can see it by every specialist making our work easier and I am very grateful to them. Despite the circumstances and external factors around our clubs, Shakhtar continue to maintain great reputation and status in the European football. Everyone knows that we undergo change of generations. I received probably 200 SMS that we have wide potential margin and soon will be a good Ukrainian team. And now we accept the Champions League as a temptation, sports challenge. We will fight and represent the country the best we can.

– What clubs would you like to play against in the first round?
– We cannot play with Celtic for sure, so it will be Real or Leipzig. I would like Leipzig to be the first to test ourselves. We will play two UPL matches and gain the playing form, tone, experience in challenges and mental stability. This is necessary to play the first match with dignity. We have to look for our chance in the match without a favourite. I do not recognize the favourites. Favourite should demonstrate that he is the best during one specific day, so you can always win in one game.

– You wrote down every opponent in the notebook. This group stage is a first one for you in Shakhtar. Will you keep the notebook?
– Yes, of course! Everything I am telling you know I will remember for the whole life. Every day here is a spots adventure for me. I worked for this, dreamed, so work ethic should be at the highest level. I work 24 hours and even when I sleep I think about football. Probably, this is the work that led me to a place where I am now standing in front of you. I hope that I will be better in five years both like coach and person. We go step by step and we will fight until the end.

– Can Shakhtar expect for new obtainments at the transfer market?
– Yes, of course! The nearest couple matches will show our weak points. I think that September 22 is the last day of transfer window, so we will see. Shakhtar as a great club shall always be alive at the transfer market. Every next match will show the things we need to work on. I think that we will make specific steps in relation to reinforcement. You know it yourself that in Stepanenko’s position we have only him with such a profile, so we have to look for similar footballer. Because in case he is sick, we need to find other alternatives, formations. We do not have another player like this in challenges, so strong, powerful and experienced.

– Do you have any candidates?
– We do, scouting service is working on it. We have only Kulakov and Sikan in forward position, until Traore gains his form. Although, each big club shall have three forwards. And if you wish to play in Europe then forward shall score at least 14 goals during the season. Otherwise, there are no Europe and no such goals we set for ourselves. I can tell from personal experience: forward shall score no less than 14 goals during the season.

– There are rumours that your former charge Marian Shved can transfer to Shakhtar. How real is it during current transfer window?
– This is one of the players I know. I know for sure that his characteristics would help us. He is strong, fast, can play one-vs-one, he is a left-footer, that is, very inconvenient as a right winger. He was requested to the national team when Andriy Shevchenko was the coach. I think he deserved to switch to Celtic after Karpaty by demonstrating his best football. Yes, he did not show himself on the maximum level during the last couple of years, but this is a question to other clubs and coaches. We will see what decision will be taken by scouting service and management and how successful will it be in general. However, such footballers will be useful for our team.