While the world might not think too much of Shakhtar Donetsk, Pep Guardiola isn’t about to fall into the trap of underrating his Champions League quarter-final opposition. Barcelona host Shakhtar, who won Group H ahead of Arsenal, on Wednesday, and despite being the consensus best team in the world aren’t going to take their less-illustrious guests lightly. At least, that is, according to their manager:
FC Barcelona Vs. Shakthar Donetsk, 2011 UEFA Champions League: Pep Guardiala Isn’t Taking Shakhtar Lightly
People underestimate Shakhtar and I don’t like what I see and hear. People think we are already in the semi-finals, people make fun of Dmytro Chygrynskiy; they take Shakhtar for granted. The feelings I have before the match aren’t that good: we have to remember this is the quarter-finals.
Believe me when I say they are a super team: they are aggressive, work hard, play well, and have a very good coach. They have a lot of strong points and this season they have impressed me more than ever. I have warned my players: If we are not at out best, Shakhtar will bulldoze us.
Barcelona would be wise to heed their coach’s words. They’re an excellent team, but not an invincible one, and worse teams have gotten results at the Camp Nou this year (see the 2-0 loss to Hercules). While Shakhtar are the underdogs and rightly so, sloppy behaviour from the home side will probably be punished, and even a single slip could see the Ukranians nick what would be a vital away goal.
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