Statements by Fernando Valente, former Shakhtar Donetsk youth coach
Fernando Valente, former Shakhtar Donetsk youth coach, previewed the Ukrainian club’s clash against FC Porto, scheduled for 8pm on Tuesday and counting for the first round of the Champions League group stage. In statements made to “Antena 1”, the coach spoke about some players he trained, highlighting their “irreverence and courage”, as well as the connection between them.
“I admire the boldness, irreverence and courage in some Shakhtar players. Sudakov, Bondarenko and Dmytro Kryskiv, who was my captain, are players who connect very well, I spent two years, especially one year with them, was fantastic. Sudakov will perhaps be the greatest talent I have trained, he will be, after Mudryk, who also passed through me and has already left, the next big transfer. I think he will leave for a big club. Then we have Bondarenko, who was only the man of the match at Real Madrid-Donetsk last season. They are kids who are very comfortable with the game”, he began by saying, then concluding:
“What can make the difference is this aggressiveness and dynamic of FC Porto, often not allowing players to play, which can surprise Shakhtar, but I think that they, despite being very young… It’s a young team, but that is prepared to deal with these types of problems. It will be interesting, but despite all this, I think that FC Porto will always be favorites. The international experience that FC Porto has, used to dealing with these competitions, is at this time important always the difference.”
