Lille head coach Paulo Fonseca, known in Ukraine for his work with Shakhtar Donetsk, said ahead of the Pitmen's Europa League encounter that the Ukrainian team will not be on equal terms with their rival, Rennes.
"It is difficult. Usually the season in Ukraine resumes with Euro Cup matches. The team is not in the best physical shape, and you play against opponents who have not stopped for the winter. In Ukraine winter is marked by preparations. When I coached there, we tried to pick the most competitive friendlies to be ready from the first game, but you can't compare it with the official matches of the season. When a Ukrainian team plays another European team in February, they are never on a level playing field," Fonseca told Quest France.