Former Shakhtar Donetsk striker Viktor Grachev shared his thoughts on the Champions League first-round match between Bologna and Shakhtar, which ended in a 0-0 draw.
Viktor Grachev- If Sudakov had scored a penalty, could the game have gone differently?
- Yes, the game could have gone differently. There would have been a different mood, inspiration for the remaining 85 minutes of the match. I think Shakhtar played with an average team that could have been beaten. If we look at the chances, the Pitmen didn't have any obvious scoring chances, but the hosts had a chance to score in the 52nd minute, but Riznyk did a great job. It could have been 1-0 in favor of the Italians, and then it was a shame for Shakhtar, who played more for a draw, defended more, and in general the game was a bit difficult. We can discount the fact that it was the first game in the Champions League, and it's good that we got Bologna, an average team in the Italian championship.
- But to beat a mid-tier team like Bologna, you need to create chances and convert them into goals. "Shakhtar didn't have a single one, and their offense was lackluster.
- What kind of chances can we talk about if there is only one shot on goal per game. The opponent had 16 shots, five of them on target.
- The Italians, in addition to the goal in the 52nd minute, could have scored even earlier in the 45th and 7th minutes, and again Riznyk played above and beyond.
- Riznyk was Shakhtar's best player of the match. He is noticeably improving, becoming a good goalkeeper, so his move to a club like Shakhtar is only a plus. In a great team, goalkeepers also grow faster. In such a game, when there is not much work, but he helps out in 2-3 moments, it speaks of the goalkeeper's class. Two scoring chances and two saves is what a goalkeeper should do. And then the team feels the reliability of its rear. It's good that Shakhtar fought back, but there is still work to be done. We need to improve the game. The Champions League is a different level compared to the Ukrainian championship.
- It is clear that Shakhtar are not yet in optimal shape. This was shown by this game and the disastrous start in the Ukrainian league. Do you agree?
- There is such a situation. We need to improve in the team game and in the speed game, in the speed of the attack, and to carry out counterattacks faster. Controlling the ball is not about keeping it across the field in your own half, but about penetrating the opponent's areas with cutting passes between the lines. So far, Shakhtar have no stability in the game, as it used to be when the Pitmen would come out, score three or four goals and the match would end. Now there is no such thing. Of course, the players are getting used to it, they are getting used to the new coach and everything takes time. A team cannot be formed in three months. Look, the starting lineup of Donetsk included nine Ukrainian players and only two legionnaires. It's nice that head coach Pushich trusts our homegrown players with a place in the lineup.
- Would you say that 0-0 is a good result for Shakhtar?
- Absolutely, especially away from home. It is always difficult to play in Italy. Judging by Shakhtar's performance, a draw looks like a win. A point on the road is also a point, and you need to win it with a lot of effort. Whatever Bologna, who won a ticket to the Champions League through the Italian league, had an incentive to perform well in front of their home fans, there were more emotions at their home stadium, and this whole atmosphere must have put pressure on Shakhtar's players. But it's okay, they held on, there is a start, a good result and we need to move on. Definitely, 0-0 in favor of Shakhtar.
Serhiy Shebek
