Shakhtar Prepares for Match Against AZ Alkmaar in Conference League

On Thursday, April 9, at 22:00 Kyiv time, the football club Shakhtar Donetsk will engage in an important match against the Dutch club AZ Alkmaar in Krakow as part of the quarter-finals of the Conference League. This meeting is one of the key events for the team, which is eager to continue its path in European competitions.

Recently, renowned Ukrainian football player and coach Yozhef Sabo shared his insights regarding Shakhtar's squad, particularly focusing on its young players and head coach Arda Turan. Sabo noted that Shakhtar possesses significant potential due to its young Brazilian footballers, who, in his opinion, may be sold in the summer transfer window. "Shakhtar has a good team because there are young Brazilians. I know what they are capable of, as I have been to Brazil many times. Those 'kids' will be bought in the summer. I think Shakhtar will be looking for players again," he commented to 24 Channel.

Sabo also addressed the team's recent struggles during the match against Lech, pointing out that the young players are trying to showcase themselves, which he believes is a form of showboating. "What were the problems in the match against Lech? It was showboating. In the second game, they went out to sell themselves. Every young Brazilian wants to sell themselves. The coach cannot do anything about it. I’m not saying that this Turk is such a great coach because there are many mistakes. He changes the lineup every game, almost half the team — that’s wrong," he stated.

Despite his critical remarks, Sabo has faith in Shakhtar's capabilities in the upcoming match against AZ Alkmaar. "AZ Alkmaar is a good team, but there are no bright stars there. Whenever a talented young player emerges, they are immediately sold to England or France. I believe Shakhtar should get past them," he emphasized.

It is worth noting that in the previous round of the Conference League, Shakhtar successfully overcame Polish side Lech Poznań, winning 3:1 in the first leg and losing 1:2 in the second. In contrast, the team from Alkmaar advanced past Prague's Sparta, winning 2:1 and 4:0.

Historically, the two clubs have met only once in official matches. This occurred in March 2005 during the Round of 16 of the UEFA Cup, where AZ defeated Shakhtar twice — 3:1 in Donetsk and 2:1 at home.

Shakhtar's sporting director Dario Srna previously shared his thoughts on the team's readiness for these two crucial matches and announced potential rotations in the squad. This indicates a serious approach to preparation and a desire to achieve success in the Conference League.