Real Madrid star Luka Modric believes Shakhtar Donetsk have evolved under Roberto De Zerbi: ‘They play better than last season.’
The La Liga giants visit the NSK Olimpijs’kyj in Kyiv tomorrow.
It’s an Italian derby between Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto De Zerbi in the same group as Inter.
De Zerbi was appointed Shakhtar coach last summer after spending three seasons at Sassuolo.
“We have followed Shakhtar. There is one person there who is my former captain in the national team [Darjo Srna], the team director, and that is why I have followed them,” Modric said at his pre-match press conference.
“They have changed coach and a little bit their playing style. Now, they keep the ball possession more, they build up from the back, I think they’re even better than last year.”
Inter, Real Madrid and Shakhtar were also in the same group last season.
The La Liga giants won the group, Shakhtar ended third and Antonio Conte’s Inter were eliminated from Europe, ending fourth.
This season, the Nerazzurri have already played against both sides, collecting a 0-0 draw in Ukraine and losing 1-0 against the Merengues at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
Tomorrow, Real Madrid and Shakhtar meet again, this time with De Zerbi on the bench.
💬 @lukamodric10: "Es un partido muy importante para nosotros."#UCL pic.twitter.com/eSLPzeUg5e
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) October 18, 2021