Jovićević: There has never been such a match in our career when we would have had the opportunity to reach the 1/8 finals of the Champions League

Main coach Shakhtar Igor Jovicevich shared his expectations for the upcoming match with RB Leipzig. The mentor noted that injuries and constant moving affect the team, but tomorrow the Pitmen will do everything possible to reach the 1/8 finals of the Champions League.

“There has never been such a match in our career when we would have had the opportunity to reach the 1/8 finals of the Champions League. Personally, I have never felt such intensity, and everything is the same, except for some players. This ambition, and sometimes the uncertainty of the moment, drives you forward. We have done a lot of work and are no longer satisfied with what we have,” said Jovićević.

“There are 95 minutes left with a very good team who have scored 16 points out of 18 in the last matches, who are showing good and intense football, beating Real Madrid and opponents in the Bundesliga. Nkunku, Werner, Forsberg – they all perform at a very good level, so tomorrow we will have a super challenge. Favorites don’t always win in football, but it’s a fact that we have a lot of injuries. Shved and Zubkov are important players in our team and our game model. But I think that their loss is worthy and at the maximum level will be replaced by others. I believe in the team and in a positive result.”

“The one who acts as the first number does not always win. A team wins if it matches the four segments of football and dominates the entire 95 minutes. You can’t win in 15 minutes – you have to stick to the plan and believe in winning until the very end.”

“If we want to reach the 1/8 finals of the Champions League, then tomorrow we only need a victory, and Leipzig will suit a draw. Sometimes such an alignment for an opponent is psychological pressure, because not everyone can play for a draw. One goal can make a difference for us and can put everything on the line and change the game through energy and all-in. This is what football is interesting for, I repeat: it is not necessary for Shakhtar to play the first number in order to win the match.”

“The first match against Leipzig proves it, because on the counterattacks with 39 percent of possession we scored four goals, but there could have been even more. It was the same with Real Madrid: we had 41 percent of the possession, and everything looked like we had 60 percent. The game went on, we got out of the pressure of Real Madrid from the defense.

“I want to see a team that reads the game. When it is necessary to endure, the defense must act compactly. Leipzig forces you to defend compactly, because if you go into pressure, you will stretch the lines. You see who we are playing against. Nkunku and Werner are worth 100 million each, and it would be fatal for us to give them space. We have to be on the ball, which led to the fact that we are thinking about reaching the 1/8 finals of the Champions League. We must not deviate from our style, but we must be smart and read the moments when you need to hold the ball. Only if you can read the game can you win.”

“Moving, of course, is exhausting, because you simply don’t have time for anything. Representatives of other teams have leisure time, but you have a constant routine, and this psychological factor is a little depressing. Tomorrow’s match will be decisive, but then we have five more games to play. Tomorrow we will try to fight and show our best. In connection with moving there is no balance between the physical and the mental. The situation is so-so for us, but no matter what, we will fight.”

Shakhtar are third in Group F and 3 points behind Leipzig. The Pitmen need a win to qualify for the playoffs of the Champions League. In the event of any other outcome, Shakhtar will qualify for the playoffs of the Europa League.

The match against Leipzig will take place on November 2 in Warsaw. The fight starts at 19:45 Kyiv time. The match will be served by a team of referees from England led by Michael Oliver.