Mircea Lucescu felt Shakhtar Donetsk “were superior” to Juventus and are right in the running for the knockout phase.
Mircea Lucescu felt Shakhtar Donetsk “were superior” to Juventus and are right in the running for the knockout phase.
Their Champions League 1-1 draw in Turin put the Ukrainians joint top in Group E with Chelsea on four points.
“A point against Juventus is great and an important result. Now we are to be counted on in the running for the knockout phase too,” Coach Lucescu told Sky Sport Italia.
“We are unbeaten in 26 games. This team has grown together, I have 23 and 24-year-olds who have been playing in the same squad since they were 18.
“I built this team and we are not afraid to play anywhere.”
Shakhtar had 58 per cent of possession at the Juventus Stadium and rattled the crossbar in stoppages.
“We had more possession and forced Juve to run hard without the ball. Even the scoring opportunities were clearly in our favour.
“Willian is already a well-known player. This year he seemed all set to join Chelsea or Tottenham, but we couldn’t reach an economic agreement. He is a great talent.
“Henrik Mkhitaryan is tactically very gifted and he kept Andrea Pirlo back. We proved that we are a team of a high level.”