Former Ukraine and Dynamo Kyiv coach Jozsef Szabo has revealed what he expects from Shakhtar Donetsk's opening match in the Champions League group stage against Portuguese side Porto.
Jozsef Szabo- Jozsef Jozsefowicz, the sleepless nights are finally returning, that is, the Champions League matches. Do you think Shakhtar fans will have a reason to rejoice on Tuesday after midnight?
- "Porto is certainly the favourite in this match. The grande dame of Portuguese football, who constantly plays in the Champions League, has no such problems with the squad as Shakhtar, although they sold several leading players in the summer (right winger Otavio left for Al Nasr for €60 million, and central defender Diego Leite was sold to Union Berlin for €7.5 million - ed.)
In contrast, Shakhtar seem to have bought a lot of players, but all of them - Azarov and the rest, the Brazilians, the Israeli Lemkin - show nothing. These players are not Shakhtar's level, which the Donetsk team taught us. We bought them just to have them.
- Personally, I was not impressed at all, and this is, to put it mildly, Shakhtar's last game in the Ukrainian Premier League against Obolon. We managed to score that one unfortunate goal, and even then, playing for more than 70 minutes in the majority.
- Was it only against Obolon that Shakhtar played poorly? In many UPL matches, it was difficult for the Donetsk team to win. It was very difficult. The main problem, in my opinion, is that the Pitmen don't have a good forward at the moment.
Now Patrick van Leeuwen has a lot of youngsters, a lot of promising players - and that's it. The team has not had a leader for a long time. I cannot single out anyone in Shakhtar's squad who could be called a leader.
There is no player who would make the game go through - who would be equally useful in defence and attack, who could see the field perfectly, who could pass the ball straight to the feet with a quality shot. This is the list of qualities of a true leader. Do you have one at Shakhtar? Yes, there is.
For many years, for decades, Shakhtar have been playing attacking football. However, if they try to play attacking football with Porto, I am sure they will lose, and with a very indecent score. Shakhtar's defence is not good, let's just say it's a bit of a mess.
In UPL matches, the Donetsk team look good physically, but against whom? Obolon, Minaya, Kolos. It will be interesting to see how they play on the international stage. It's a different level, completely different.
- You have focused your attention on Shakhtar's defenders. It is reasonable. But even at the last line, this team is not doing well. The play of both Dmytro Riznyk and Artur Rudko, although it is difficult to speak objectively about him after one match, does not inspire confidence.
- I agree. After Shakhtar sold Anatoliy Trubin to Benfica, the number one question for the club is who to replace him with? Personally, I don't see a goalkeeper in Ukraine as strong as Trubin was in Donetsk.
You know, perhaps the only part of Shakhtar that performs its function more or less well is the midfield. Taras Stepanenko, Heorhiy Sudakov, Dmytro Kryskiv - there are practically no questions about these guys.
- Can Shakhtar sign the verdict and deposit money in a bookmaker's office on Porto's victory?
- (Laughs). I can't say that Shakhtar have no chance. I didn't say that, but I don't see how Patrick van Leeuwen's team can win.
Shakhtar will have to play a lot in defence, and their goalkeeper, no matter who comes out - Riznyk or Rudko, is not very reliable, the defence is leaky, the midfield, we have already talked about this...
Of course, miracles happen, that's why we love football. It is only through a miracle that the Shakhtar will be able to win.
- A prediction from Jožef Szabo.
- Of course, I wish Shakhtar good luck, don't think otherwise, but I don't believe in their success. I don't even know how the team can expect a positive result. Unless, as they say now, they put a bus in the defence. And I'm not sure this tactic can help the Miners.
I think Porto will win 2-0.
Viktor Glukhenkyi
