Stepanenko and Ordets
Monday, December 11, 2017
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Shakhtar players evaluated the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 draw results
Taras Stepanenko, midfielder:
- I’m happy with the draw, because of all the rivals we could’ve got, Roma are about the same level with us. A good team with a number of very skilful players. They displayed excellent results in their quartet, but still they're neither Barcelona nor PSG. We also advanced from a strong group, I suppose our chances are pretty good. In some ways, we could even compare Roma with Napoli: they use the same formation as the Neapolitans used against us in Kharkiv. The Romans have three strong central midfielders - De Rossi, Strootman and Nainggolan, who often run into open spaces, along with the towering striker Dzeko who always responds to crosses, and a wonderful winger Perotti. The only difference is that Napoli have a more organized defensive third, while Roma focus on attacking – they score quite many goals, but they also concede many goals.
- I’m happy with the draw, because of all the rivals we could’ve got, Roma are about the same level with us. A good team with a number of very skilful players. They displayed excellent results in their quartet, but still they're neither Barcelona nor PSG. We also advanced from a strong group, I suppose our chances are pretty good. In some ways, we could even compare Roma with Napoli: they use the same formation as the Neapolitans used against us in Kharkiv. The Romans have three strong central midfielders - De Rossi, Strootman and Nainggolan, who often run into open spaces, along with the towering striker Dzeko who always responds to crosses, and a wonderful winger Perotti. The only difference is that Napoli have a more organized defensive third, while Roma focus on attacking – they score quite many goals, but they also concede many goals.
I well remember the clash between Shakhtar and Roma in 2011: I played for the reserve team back then, with our team claiming a 3-2 win away and a 3-0 one at home. We delivered some excellent performance – hopefully, this will happen this time too
Ivan Ordets, defender:
- It's not bad that we haven’t been drawn against such clubs as Barcelona and PSG, we wanted to see Besiktas or Roma. Good opponents. I'm not saying they are weak, being, in my opinion, just more ‘convenient’ opponents. In the Last 16 everyone’s strong, so there will be no easy fixtures. The Romans’ attacking third features many top-class players, I want to mention El Shaarawy and Dzeko. While Napoli’s coaching strategy is very compact performance, Roma’s attacking is more impromptu. I well remember the clash between Shakhtar and Roma in 2011: I played for the reserve team back then, with our team claiming a 3-2 win away and a 3-0 one at home. We delivered some excellent performance – hopefully, this will happen this time too.
- It's not bad that we haven’t been drawn against such clubs as Barcelona and PSG, we wanted to see Besiktas or Roma. Good opponents. I'm not saying they are weak, being, in my opinion, just more ‘convenient’ opponents. In the Last 16 everyone’s strong, so there will be no easy fixtures. The Romans’ attacking third features many top-class players, I want to mention El Shaarawy and Dzeko. While Napoli’s coaching strategy is very compact performance, Roma’s attacking is more impromptu. I well remember the clash between Shakhtar and Roma in 2011: I played for the reserve team back then, with our team claiming a 3-2 win away and a 3-0 one at home. We delivered some excellent performance – hopefully, this will happen this time too.