Champions League, Here We Come!

Sergio returned to training with the rest of the team today (and rocked some kung fu moves) for the last training before meeting Shakhtar.

Getting Ready for Shakhtar

Portuguese-speaking mafia in the house

Well, I certainly enjoyed that match yesterday – how about you? I wouldn’t mind that Real Madrid showing up for the rest of the season.

Champions League Draw Results

Click on the image to enlarge

Racing off to a meeting so apologies for the image size. Our UCL opponents will be PSG, Malmö & Shaktar Donetsk. Wow, we got Zlatan past and present!

Thoughts on the groups?

– Lozil

“We needed to leave Donetsk but life didn’t end”

I wasn’t able to watch the Shakhtar Donetsk vs Bayern Munich match this past Tuesday. I did, however, read this insightful article by Alec Luhn in The Guardian about Shakhtar Donetsk and how the club and its players are dealing with the ongoing troubles in the Ukraine.

Champions League Round of 16

The Champions League draw was earlier today and we found out our opponent for the Round of 16 and it’s….Schalke!

The Daily Drool – Champions League Group H – Shakhtar Donetsk: Rustam Khudzhamov

Goalkeeper Rustam rejoined Shakhtar in 2014  – he previously played for the team from 2008-2012 – after a two year stint with llichivets Mariupol. He has represented the Ukraine at the U21 and senior levels.

UEFA Elite Club Coaches Forum

Sneakers? Really Pep, Luis?

Every September UEFA holds this two-day forum for a select group of managers to come together and discuss a variety of football issues, get shit-faced, and talk smack about the other managers. Or so I speculate. This year’s forum is being held right now in Nyon, Switzerland, and is being chaired by UEFA’s coaching ambassador, Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Daily Drool – World Cup 2014 – Brazil: Bernard Duarte

Since we’re doing a profile of each of the countries participating in World Cup 2014, it makes sense that our Drools follow suit. First up is a host country cutie. 21 year old winger Bernard plays for Shakhtar Donetsk. He has represented Brazil at the senior level, making his debut in 2012.

The Daily Drool: Tornike Okriashvili

Midfielder Tornike currently plays for Chornomorets Odessa on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk. He has represented Georgia at the U19, U21 and senior levels.

UPDATED: Pure Class: Shakhtar Donetsk Pays The Late Maicon Pereira’s Family His Full Contract Amount

In a wonderful gesture, Shaktar Donestsk has decided to pay the full contract to Maicon Pereira’s family. The 25 year old striker was tragically killed in a car accident last weekend.  (UPDATED: Just to clear up any confusion, this is not the Maicon who played for Inter Milan, Man City & Roma – that’s Maicon Sisenando.)