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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Mark Walker

Blown away Shakhtar boss raves about 'best Celtic team for 20 years'

Igor Jovicevic

ANGE POSTECOGLOU has assembled the best Celtic team for 20 years, according to Shakhtar Donetsk manager Igor Jovicevic.

The Hoops were denied their first win in the Champions League group stages this week after a 1-1 draw with the Ukrainian champions in Poland.

They now face a crucial double-header with RB Leipzig, with the Germans pointless after losing to Shakhar and Real Madrid in their first couple of games.

And Croatian boss Jovicevic reckons their point at home to Celtic was all the more impressive because of the standing he holds the Scottish champions in.

He said: "You learn something from every game and we did everything to win. We knew that there would be a period where we would have the ball at our feet regardless of Celtic's aggressive approach.

"This is the best Celtic team for the last 20 years and their form confirms it. They are really aggressive, fast, dynamic and create huge pressure.

"Real Madrid will confirm that. In the last game Celtic, deserved to score four goals, and Real won 3-0.

"Celtic are a fantastic team who are in great shape and we had that period after the conceded goal where they really pressurised us furiously, we expected that and after a few mistakes, nervousness was created in the team.

"But it was as if their goal freed ourselves and by the end of the first half, for 25 minutes, we had the upper hand and we scored a goal and we scored another one, but it was ruled out.

"We suffered a lot in the second half. This result is a reward for effort, maybe it wasn't a brilliant game, but it's a good point.

"We are a young team, these are our first matches in the Champions League, 95 per cent of the team has no experience in the Champions League. We are looking for experience against top players and teams.

"We are not the favorites, Leipzig and Celtic and Real Madrid are and we are aware of that. But we also have our weapons, game-management, organisation, individual responsibility, team spirit, character and that's why we are competitive, regardless of the fact that we are outsiders.

"I would have taken four points after two games if you had asked me."

And Jovicevic has revealed just what a hectic schedule they will have until the rematch with Celtic in Glasgow next month.

He said: "Those trips, from Ukraine to Warsaw, then to Madrid, Leipzig, Glasgow. We are constantly on buses, trains and planes. Getting out of Ukraine is long-lasting, the borders too, you arrive at your destination tired and there is no other way out. "We cannot leave Ukraine by plane. We spend every day off on the bus and we don't have a day off until November 26.until the end of the league."

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