"It'll be a very demanding task"

Kevin Vogt on…

… his participation on Wednesday:

"I'm certain that we'll have this sorted by tomorrow evening. I'm positive that I'll be able to play."

… the match in Dusseldorf:

"It was a defeat that haunted us the following day too. We've drawn a line under it now though and have concentrated on getting ourselves ready for the game against Shakhtar Donetsk. The excitement ahead of playing in the Champions should outweigh any hangover from the previous match, and that is definitely the case with the team."

… the Champions League:

"We want to perform better than we did last year in the UEFA Europa League and want to start that process tomorrow."

… Shakhtar Donetsk:

"We've analysed the team. They have in their squad a very good and highly experienced side that also know their way around the Champions League. We know that we're going up against a strong footballing team. It'll be a very demanding task. We need to play a perfect game in order to be able to take all three points back home with us."

Julian Nagelsmann on …

… the personnel situation:

"Kerem Demirbay and Kevin Akpoguma have returned. I noticed that Ermin Bicakcic still had a slight limp in training yesterday. Because of the congested fixture list across the next few weeks, we don't want to risk it. For that reason, he won't participate."

… the English weeks (weeks with an additional mid-week fixture):

"We were unsuccessful in the previous game and have now the chance just four days later to get a win. It's part and parcel of being a top-level team that setbacks have to be worked through. It is of course a chance for the entire squad given a few players are carrying injuries and we have lots of matches ahead of us. The whole group trained well in the last session. We need every player in the squad to push himself to the limit."

… what he expects tactically:

"Donetsk have already frequently played against a back three both in the league and the cup. We are flexible in how we can line up though and could also set up with a back four tomorrow. Shakhtar are likewise very uncomfortable to play against. They can alter their basic formation, have a number of great footballers on the pitch and have been participating in the Champions League for years."

The opposition's form:

Shakhtar have begun the season well. After eight matchdays in the Ukrainian league, manager Paulo Fonseca's team have 21 points. With seven wins and just one loss, the reigning champions occupy top spot in the table once more and are well on their way to defending their title.

Previous encounters:

This will be the first time that TSG and Shakhtar Donetsk face each other.

 

 

 

 

 

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