Alexander ZUBKOV: “This match showed that Real Madrid has weaknesses”

Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Oleksandr Zubkov talked about his away game against Real Madrid (1:2), his goal and his mood in the home game.

– Alexander, it’s a tough and eventful match for your team. How would you rate the game?

– It was difficult. We all understood who we were playing against – this is one of the best, if not the best, in the world. We understood that we would give them the initiative somewhere, and the plan was to meet them at headquarters. Of course, 36 shots against our goal speaks for itself, but we had positions even in such a difficult match.

– You don’t score goals against Real Madrid every day. Did you have a hunch that you might be successful?

– To be honest, Lassina Traore came to me at lunchtime and said she had a dream that I was going to score today. We joked a little, but it came true. Naturally, it’s nice to score a goal in such a stadium and in a team like Real Madrid (Madrid). But it would be twice as good if we had won points.

– How was your mood for the second half and what did the coach say at the timeout?

“Perhaps we are a little more confident. And of course, there was a task to score the second goal.

– What was the hardest part of this game?

– I think the first 25-30 minutes: There were many opportunities at our doorstep and it was a difficult time. The opponent scored, he could have scored more but probably my goal gave the team some confidence.

– It can be said that very soon revenge will be taken from Real Madrid. How are you going to this game?

We will fight until the end. I repeat: we understand who we are playing against, but even this match has shown that they also have weaknesses.