Former Shakhtar Donetsk striker Andriy Vorobey has revealed what he thinks about his former team's 1-0 victory over Spanish side Barcelona in yesterday's Champions League group stage matchday 4.
- Before the match, I thought that a draw would be a very favourable result. I did not predict a victory for Shakhtar. To be honest, I am shocked. I am in a pleasant shock at Shakhtar's victory. It was a very valid game. No one was sure of the final result until the final whistle. It was an unexpected result.
In the game against Barcelona, I really liked the character demonstrated by all Shakhtar players without exception. They jumped over their heads to beat Barcelona. It was an extremely important victory. Shakhtar have already guaranteed themselves a European Cup spring by 99.9 per cent.
- Who would you call the main hero of the match? The author of Danilo Sikan's only and winning goal?
- Sikan was certainly one of the best on the pitch. I would also praise goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk for a very decent performance.
But most of all, I liked the way the team played in defence. It was as strict as possible. Somewhere they played to the hilt, but it was justified because Barcelona dominated the field most of the time. All players defended, especially at the end of the game. There was no such thing as someone not working out.
However, for all their superiority in ball control, the Spaniards did not create a single real goal-scoring chance. And not because they acted badly, but because Shakhtar's players did not allow them to play their usual game. They did not allow them to play their usual game.
They withstood, endured, played through the roof, as they say, and were rewarded with a victory. Shakhtar have often lacked this kind of patience and character, like in the match against Barcelona, in the past.
In the game against Barcelona, Shakhtar played much better than they did under Patrick van Leeuwen, and in a similar way to how the team did in the best of times under Igor Jovicevic or even Roberto De Zerbi. There is more self-confidence, discipline, and relaxation.
It will be possible to draw conclusions about Marino Pušić's work after the winter break, training camp and several months of his full-time work with the team.
- As for Patrick van Leeuwen, since we mentioned his name by accident. Could it be that Shakhtar's players "fused" him together, as they say?
- There is no smoke without fire. Anything is possible in football, but I have no reliable information. I have not heard anything like that. No one has told me.
I know that the microclimate at Shakhtar is excellent now. The new coach managed to unite the players in a short time and improve the overall psychological state of the team.
- After the victory over Barcelona, everything should be fine in the Donetsk team. In certain scenarios, the team can even compete for the last 16 of the Champions League.
- Why not? Earlier, before the game against Barcelona, I said with certainty that there was virtually no chance of reaching the last 16 of the Champions League. That Shakhtar's main rival in the group was Antwerp, and that they had to fight for third place and not even dream of the play-offs.
But after the victory over Barcelona, we have a real chance of getting out of the group. If Shakhtar defeat Antwerp in their next game and Porto lose points at Barcelona, then anything is possible.
However, the most important thing is that after the victory over Barcelona, Shakhtar have already guaranteed themselves 99.9 per cent participation in European competitions in the spring - either in the Europa League or even the Champions League. This is very important for the club and for Ukraine, which needs to maintain its position in the UEFA rankings.
Viktor Glukhenkyi