Bondar: We will do everything to ensure Shakhtar in the Round of 16

Shakhtar defender Valerii Bondar on the match against Celtic and team’s goals.

– Are the team happy about the European spring?
– We are glad that we could ensure a positive result allowing us to continue our path in the Eurocups. We are playing in the Champions League for the first time having this team and it is a step forward for us. However, we still have, let’s say, the super final, which is an important match for all fans, for club’s president, for the team. This is the match that will make it possible for us to show all our qualities we have demonstrated during the previous five games and earn tree points to advance to the Champions League Round of 16.

– If we compare the first match against Celtic with today’s match, didn’t it seem that the opponent has more serious intentions?
– You saw and heard the fans pushing the team forward all the time. When you have such support you cannot just play out the string, you make every effort on the field. That is what they did. But we oppose our rivals decently and played a great match.

– How did you like the atmosphere and how strong was pressure from the fans?
– It was tough during the first 5–10 minutes, but we managed, the game “change hands”: sometimes we led, sometimes Celtic controlled the ball – the half was more equal. It is good that we withstood these opening minutes and starting pressure demonstrated by Celtic against every team – Real Madrid, RB Leipzig. When they press actively during the first minutes and play exactly in the opponent’s half of the field.

– What caused the conceded goal?
– We will analyse this episode soon. Now we are happy with what we have, and then we will draw conclusions with the team and coaches to prevent it from repeating.

– Can we say that the match against RB Leipzig will become the most important one at this stage of your career and for current Shakhtar?
– I hope that it won’t be the most important match in our lives, in my career and career of the boys, because we really wish to qualify for the Champions League Round of 16. We dream to be there and we will do everything to ensure Shakhtar in the Champions League Round of 16.