Shakhtar Donetsk team captain said his side will give its all in their April 6 Champions League quarterfinal match against Barcelona. “We will play till the last minute, the last second. Of course we’re not the favorites in this fixture, however…We will try to spring an upset although it will be difficult.”
Asked about expert assessments calling their next month’s match a “murder”, the Croatian retorted with a smile. “We are confident and we’re going to Barcelona not to lose. But I repeat, it will be difficult playing against the world’s best team.”
Defender Dmtryo Chygrynskyy, who played the 2009 season for the Catalan super giants, was the only one to show no emotion when Barcelona was named their opponent.
“I was just focusing,” Chygrynskyy told the team’s press service. “I don’t believe we could lose horribly, but win we can and then everyone will speak of our club being the best in Europe.”
Chygrynskyy emphasized their showdown will not be one of individual matchups. “The priority will be on team play,” the center-back said of his former club.
But he warned that Shakhtar will have to play almost flawless soccer to advance to the semifinals.
“Barcelona immediately pounces on the slightest weakness. Should you just blink an eye, retribution will soon follow.”
Odds makers disagree, however. Broker Ladbrokes lists Shakhtar as five-to-one underdogs to move past Barcelona. That’s not to say Shakhtar doesn’t have a prayer. Club CEO Sergiy Palkin showed the most resolve in his reaction to facing Barcelona. Asked about the possiblity of stopping La Liga’s top club, he said rhetorically: “If not us then who?”
