Former head coach of Shakhtar Valeriy Yaremchenko assessed the Miners’ prospects in the current Champions League after the 1:3 defeat to Porto:
“Everyone – both football people and fans – understands perfectly well the conditions in which not only the Donetsk team, but also the country is now. Therefore, I do not envy the head coach, because Shakhtar is in limbo. The miners do not have their own stadium, their own base, and the team is constantly forced to be “on wheels.”
It’s very difficult for Shakhtar now, and this is a harsh reality. So I wouldn’t blame the team for failures, because under normal conditions they would hardly give up points so easily. And this is not just my opinion – I’m sure that if you ask any fan, he will answer the same. Unless some spiteful critics, influencing the team with negative emotions, may argue differently.
I advise players not to pay attention to this, because we understand the situation they are in. And fans need to be patient, because football in such conditions is not complete.
As for the future prospects of the Donetsk team in the current Champions League, it seems to me that they will be able to correct the situation. However, it will be very difficult. And not only I, but also many other people who are directly related to football, realize this.”
