Shakhtar Donetsk snatched a point from ‘the best Celtic side in 20 years’ during Wednesday’s 1-1 Champions League group-stage draw in Warsaw, head coach Igor Jovicevic tells UA Tribuna.
They say the table never lies. But has been known to fib, on occasions.
Yes, Celtic have just one point from their first two matches in the group-stage. What that tally does not show, however, is just how impressive Ange Postecoglou’s side were against European champions Real Madrid on matchday one; outplaying and running rings around Carlo Ancelotti’s star-studded side before tiring in the second half.
And, in Poland, Celtic dominated large swathes of the game away from home against UCL-regulars Shakhtar; only the wastefulness of Giorgios Giakoumakis and Daizen Maeda denying Celtic their first away win in Europe’s elite-club competition since Leigh Griffiths scored against Anderlecht five years ago.
Celtic could still qualify for the Champions League knockout stages
“It was a difficult match. I assure you that it would be difficult for every team against Celtic. This is the best Celtic side in the last 20 years,” says Jovacevic. “With a good coach and very dynamic players who are very quick to recover the ball; very aggressive in pressing and do not let you breathe at all.
“Against Real Madrid, they lost 3-0. But, until the 60th minute, Celtic were superior to Madrid both in terms of chances and the game.
“They are very experienced and a very strong team. They are super-fast and a super aggressive team and we knew exactly what we were about to face. The pressing, especially in the beginning, was incredible,” he adds in quotes provided by The Herald.
“We tried to hold them off and we failed. They did score a goal. But, then, we felt the support given to us by the fans and that was incredible.”
Reo Hatate’s deflected opener, set up by new signing Sead Haksabanovic, was cancelled out by the rapid Mykhaylo Mudryk just before the half-hour mark.
“(Celtic) have more experience. They have an international squad with a high cost of players. They were the favourites. For us, this is a great experience,” Jovicevic adds.
“We knew who we were playing for. The fans gave us an impetus, plus 40 million Ukrainians back home who gave us energy. So this point, one might say, is an excellent result.”
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