Former Shakhtar player Serhiy Yashchenko shared his impressions of his former team's first match against French side Marseille (2-2) in the Europa League play-off for the right to reach the 1/8 finals of this tournament.
Сергей Ященко"It felt that Shakhtar were still only on the way to their best sporting form. Still, it's a big difference: friendlies and calendar matches, where the degree of responsibility is quite different. And for Shakhtar, it was the first official game in 2024. It was noticeable that the Pitmen lacked clarity in the closing stages of attacks due to problems with the last pass, and it was good that everything ended in a 2-2 draw.
I believe that the scoreline was in line with the game. In my opinion, none of the teams did not play to win. Marseille's game did not make a complete impression either. I do not rule out that the guests were afraid of the Donets' formidable weapon - counterattacks, so they did not act with an open mind. After all, the coaching staff chooses the tactics for the match, based on the conditions in which their wards are. Apparently, the prolonged winless streak of Gennaro Gattuso's wards somewhere also made itself felt. The visitors were not confident in their abilities, which is probably why they quickly conceded after their goals when the Pitmen were more aggressive.
Don't consider me an original, but in my opinion, Shakhtar have more chances to win the return leg. Shakhtar had an opportunity to make sure that Marseille also have vulnerabilities. This must be utilised. A maximum attitude and extensive international experience should become a reliable support for the Ukrainian team," Sport.ua quoted Yashchenko as saying.
