Rui Vitoria has praised the quality of "Shakhtar" ahead of their crucial Europa League qualification match, insisting the Ukrainian side's strength serves as motivation rather than intimidation for his Panathinaikos team.
"Regarding our opponent's strength, I've said many times that this is probably the best team at this stage. This doesn't frighten us – on the contrary, it gives us additional motivation," Vitoria told Sport24.gr.
The Portuguese coach appreciated facing teams with clear playing philosophies similar to his own. Vitoria emphasized that his squad aims to play attacking football regardless of who they face, though he acknowledged that sometimes opponents can limit those ambitions.
"Shakhtar" impressed Vitoria with their technical abilities and tactical approach. He specifically highlighted their ball control near the opponent's penalty area and their ability to create scoring opportunities.
"They're a very good team with quality players and well-rehearsed actions. They seek to control the ball near the opponent's penalty area and create chances – just like us," explained the Panathinaikos manager.
Interestingly, Vitoria doesn't expect "Shakhtar" to change their approach from the first meeting. His game plan focuses on disrupting their build-up play while minimizing mistakes when his team has possession.
The crucial second leg will take place on August 14 at Krakow's Henryk Reyman Municipal Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 21:00 Kyiv time. Can the Greek side overcome one of the qualification round's strongest teams? The answer will come soon enough.
