Jovicevic: We are Shakhtar and we will fight until the end

Added at:
another languages: uk ru

Shakhtar head coach Igor Jovicevic shared his thoughts regarding the opponents in the UEFA Europa League play-offs.

– Igor, what was your reaction to the results of the draw, where Shakhtar got the French Rennes?
– We got good opponents who showed themselves in the Europa League group. Especially, in two matches against Dynamo Kyiv, where Rennes beat them twice. They are currently in the third spot in the strong French league, so we can talk about very qualified opponents for whom we have the utmost respect. However, we have to pay attention to the fact that we are Shakhtar. We will fight until the end and we think big. We still have time to prepare. Currently, we are focused on the UPL, where we want to earn maximum points in four remaining rounds. And we will have enough time to prepare well before the matches against Rennes. After watching the draw, I got the impression that Rennes representatives were not indifferent either seeing Shakhtar. We showed what we are capable of and I am sure that they also feel respect for our team.

– As you have said before, Rennes are familiar to Ukrainian fans from matches against Dynamo. Did you see the opponents in these games?
– Of course, you follow not the teams against which you don’t play, but mostly Ukrainian clubs and root for them when they play in the European Cups. And we focused our attention in these matches mostly on the way Dynamo play, but not Rennes. However, I know one footballer of the French team very well, this is Lovro Majer. When I was the coach of Dynamo Zagreb I worked with him. Now he is the star of Rennes: the entire play goes through him and he is a key player. So it will also be a challenge for him and for me. It will be interesting to play against Lovro, because he is a great footballer which he has shown during this season in France. He is a key player in the entire championship and European clubs have an interest in him today.

– Shakhtar will play the first math at home. Does it matter where to start – at home or away?
– Each of us, coaches and team, want to play in free Kyiv, Lviv, in Ukraine, where the fans would be able to come and support us. However, today’s situation makes us think about home matches in Warsaw. You must be focused on the game, we cannot change anything here. We have the training camp ahead, so there will be time to prepare for this first play-off round. I think a very difficult match is waiting for us. But, I say it again, we are Shakhtar and we will fight until the end.

another languages: uk ru

NewsRSS - News - Terrikon

25 August

22:51
Substitution Blunder Hands Athletic Club Narrow Win Over Rayo Vallecano
22:32
Udinese and Verona Settle for 1-1 Draw in Serie A Opener
17:35
Chiro Immobile Faces Two-Month Layoff After Nightmare Serie A Return
15:27
Rasmus Højlund Close to Napoli Move as Manchester United Exit Nears
12:17
Arsenal Star Bukayo Saka Ruled Out for a Month with Hamstring Injury
10:42
Real Madrid Blocking £70m Tottenham Move for Nico Paz
08:04
Real Madrid Edge Past Brave Real Oviedo to Climb Into La Liga Top Three
00:13
Juventus Ease Past Parma with Confident 2–0 Win in Turin
00:10
Atalanta Frustrated by Resilient Pisa in 1–1 Draw

24 August

23:43
Villarreal Humiliate Girona 5–0 to Go Top of La Liga
23:22
Espanyol Snatch Crucial Point in 2–2 Thriller Against Real Sociedad
23:13
Osasuna See Off Valencia in Confident Home Victory
23:10
Como Stun Lazio with Dominant Opening Day Victory in Serie A
22:53
Fiorentina Held to 1-1 Draw by Cagliari
20:37
New Season, Same Old Issues: Manchester United Drop Points Against Fulham
19:04
Palace and Forest Share the Spoils in Even Premier League Contest
18:55
Everton Mark Debut at Hill Dickinson Stadium with 2–0 Win Over Brighton
16:50
Rangers Held to Third Consecutive 1-1 Draw
08:33
Lyon Go Top of Ligue 1: Fonseca's Side Cruise Past Metz in 3–0 Victory
00:53
Barcelona Go Top of La Liga After Dramatic Comeback Win Over Levante
00:42
Milan Stunned by Serie A Newcomers as Allegri and Modrić Era Begins with Defeat
00:02
AS Roma Edge Bologna as Wesley Secures Opening Day Win

23 August

23:54
Atletico Madrid Held at Home by La Liga Newcomers Elche
21:57
Borussia Dortmund Blow Two-Goal Lead in Six-Goal Thriller vs St. Pauli
21:46
Kevin De Bruyne Scores on Serie A Debut as Napoli Claim Opening Win