Europa League: Shakhtar Donetsk 'are difficult to beat and can win the title' - Lucescu

Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk players celebrate after their 4-1 victory over Swiss club Basel in their UEFA Europa League quarter-final encounter. Photo: Wolfgang Rattay/Pool via Getty Images

Mircea Lucescu, former coach of Inter and Shakhtar Donetsk, thinks the Ukrainian side ‘can win’ the Europa League this season and looks forward to a ‘very interesting match’.


The 75-year-old is currently in charge of Dynamo Kiev but spent 12 years at the helm of Shakhtar Donetsk between 2004 and 2016.

Lucescu, who was in charge of Inter for almost four months in 1998-99, believes his former club can go all the way in the competition.

“[Shakhtar] are difficult to beat at the moment, they are exceptionally organised,” Lucescu told Sky Sport Italia.

“They have been using this system for a long time and have many Brazilians bringing something different on a technical level.

“It will be hard for Inter to get the ball back when Shakhtar manage possession.

“It will be a very interesting match, between the Ukrainians organisation and ability to control the matches against the Nerazzurri’s aggressiveness and individuality.

“At Shakhtar, we created a system thanks to the work of President Rinat Achmetov, the coaches have to adapt to this system.

“I think this team can win the title.”