Shakhtar vs Gwangju: players’ opinion

- The sparring turned out quite tough. We confronted very aggressive opponents, with them doing a great amount of running work, putting tight pressure, and preventing us from moving from defence. Now, we are preparing for a serious match with Celta, so it is great to have had such a game. The previous friendlies compared to this one had been quite easy. If there were a little less aggression and brutality coming from the Koreans, the match could be called perfect. At the same time, we tried to dictate the game and not to allow the opponents to create practically any real opportunities. It's nice that we managed the fourth consecutive clean sheet. This credit is to be shared by the entire team: everyone knows what to do defensively and how to perform. And we try to implement that. If we do not concede, that means we succeed.

- This had been a good match against a worthy opponent. Koreans operated aggressively putting pressure all the time and not allowing us “to take a breather”. Bearing in mind the clash against the similar uncompromising Celta coming soon, this game had been very useful. Gwangju footballers fought to the end, trying not to be worse. The team from another part of the world, probably, wanted to prove that they are as good as European clubs. But thanks to our skills, we fashioned clear-cut chances, scored one goal, and could have scored more. It is always easier to prepare through friendlies, however, training sessions are also required. We have important Europa League matches ahead, with the restart of the domestic league promising to be not easy – so it is crucial to approach them well-prepared.