Champions League

[monks data]

Champions League | Round-of-16

Feb 13, 2013 at 7.45pm UK

Shakhtar Shakhtar Donetsk
2-2
Dortmund Borussia Dortmund

Jurgen Klopp: 'Shakhtar Donetsk good team despite Willian's departure'

By Subhankar Mondal, Reporter | 13 February 2013

Klopp: 'Shakhtar not weakened by Willian's departure'

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp says that Shakhtar Donetsk are still a good side despite the departure of Willian to Anzhi Makhachkala last month.

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp has said that Willian's departure from Shakhtar Donetsk in January has not weakened them.

The 24-year-old Brazilian playmaker left the Ukrainian champions for Anzhi Makhachkala last month.

However, Klopp believes that Shakhtar will still be tough opponents for his side during the teams' clash in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 at the Donbass Arena on Wednesday.

"Mircea Lucescu is an excellent coach," he told reporters on Tuesday. "He has done a great job at Shakhtar and has taught his side to play attractive football.

"Willian has left Donetsk but that does not mean Shakhtar have become weaker. We have watched the matches they played during their winter break and I can say they have high-quality players. You can hardly point out an area where Shakhtar have a weakness.

"Tomorrow we will see an interesting and intense game because both teams will need to give their best performance or even surpass that level. And, of course, we will do our best - we came here to provide uncomfortable opposition."

Dortmund will head into Wednesday's game on the back of a 4-1 home defeat to Hamburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday.