We can fight for advancing out of the group
Thursday, August 31, 2023
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Shakhtar midfielder and captain Taras Stepanenko commented on the results of the Champions League draw
– Taras, Shakhtar found out their opponents in the group stage. What are your impressions of the composition of Group H?
– I am very happy! There is a team from Spain – Barcelona, and it is great. I guessed right that we would get Porto. And Antwerp are a team against who you can play and get results. Therefore, basically, we can say that it is a good draw, and it is only up to us how we will perform. After all, I think that we have every chance to fight and advance out of the group, so that Ukrainian team, Shakhtar, could have the European spring. However, saying it is one thing, and doing it is a bit different. So, we should work very hard.
– Before the draw, you said that it was very easy for Shakhtar to play against the Portuguese team sometimes. What do you think the matches against Porto will be like?
– Honestly, I have not watched Porto matches in a while. I know that they had some problems in the previous season: they fought for the title for a long time, and then left the tournament. I think that this is not a very stable team, and that is why they are easy to play against. As we can see, Benfica have good periods now and then. And in general, Portuguese teams and entire Portuguese football have skilful guys who like to play with the ball. And you can get a result with them, because we always got a result each time we played against the teams from Portugal – Porto, Benfica, Braga.
– Shakhtar once played against Barcelona as well, but you did not participate in the matches then...
– Yes, it was my first or second year at Shakhtar, and during the match at Camp Nou, I was on the bench when we lost and missed the second leg due to an injury. While Lucescu let the guys, who appeared less in the Champions League, to play in that match, and I really wanted to play, but I could not, that is when Messi scored against us. However, as far as I know, they are no longer playing at Camp Nou, which is under reconstruction. And it is a pity, because I wanted to play at this legendary stadium. But still, Barcelona is Barcelona. And it is very cool!
– How do you assess Shakhtar's chances in this Champions League?
– Last year we were not given any chances at all, but we played well and advanced out of the group, and could even get into the play-offs of the Champions League – everything was decided in the last match. So, to say now that we will definitely advance out of the group is disrespectful to our opponents. We have to understand that currently all teams are very powerful, all of them are getting stronger. And there is a war going on in our country, so there are many young guys in the team, and not everyone has the experience of playing in the Champions League. But I think that we have a very good squad, a good team, the guys are making progress. And at the very least, we should do everything to give people and ourselves a holiday and advance to the European spring. It is hard to say whether it will be possible to reach the play-offs of the Champions League or the Europa League, but we should always have big dreams and goals. So, we can fight for advancing out of the group.
– I am very happy! There is a team from Spain – Barcelona, and it is great. I guessed right that we would get Porto. And Antwerp are a team against who you can play and get results. Therefore, basically, we can say that it is a good draw, and it is only up to us how we will perform. After all, I think that we have every chance to fight and advance out of the group, so that Ukrainian team, Shakhtar, could have the European spring. However, saying it is one thing, and doing it is a bit different. So, we should work very hard.
– Before the draw, you said that it was very easy for Shakhtar to play against the Portuguese team sometimes. What do you think the matches against Porto will be like?
– Honestly, I have not watched Porto matches in a while. I know that they had some problems in the previous season: they fought for the title for a long time, and then left the tournament. I think that this is not a very stable team, and that is why they are easy to play against. As we can see, Benfica have good periods now and then. And in general, Portuguese teams and entire Portuguese football have skilful guys who like to play with the ball. And you can get a result with them, because we always got a result each time we played against the teams from Portugal – Porto, Benfica, Braga.
– Shakhtar once played against Barcelona as well, but you did not participate in the matches then...
– Yes, it was my first or second year at Shakhtar, and during the match at Camp Nou, I was on the bench when we lost and missed the second leg due to an injury. While Lucescu let the guys, who appeared less in the Champions League, to play in that match, and I really wanted to play, but I could not, that is when Messi scored against us. However, as far as I know, they are no longer playing at Camp Nou, which is under reconstruction. And it is a pity, because I wanted to play at this legendary stadium. But still, Barcelona is Barcelona. And it is very cool!
– How do you assess Shakhtar's chances in this Champions League?
– Last year we were not given any chances at all, but we played well and advanced out of the group, and could even get into the play-offs of the Champions League – everything was decided in the last match. So, to say now that we will definitely advance out of the group is disrespectful to our opponents. We have to understand that currently all teams are very powerful, all of them are getting stronger. And there is a war going on in our country, so there are many young guys in the team, and not everyone has the experience of playing in the Champions League. But I think that we have a very good squad, a good team, the guys are making progress. And at the very least, we should do everything to give people and ourselves a holiday and advance to the European spring. It is hard to say whether it will be possible to reach the play-offs of the Champions League or the Europa League, but we should always have big dreams and goals. So, we can fight for advancing out of the group.