De Zerbi-Shakhtar, future at the crossroads: “Maybe it was my last day here”

Roberto De Zerbi’s experience on the Shakhtar bench now seems to have come to an end. At the basis of this choice is the agitation due to the state of uncertainty in which Ukrainian football finds itself, following the conflict. Prem “jer-liha (the first Ukrainian series) was suspended at the beginning of the Russian offensive, then last week the news of the cancellation came.” It was a sad and emotional day, because maybe it was my last day as Shakhtar manager. I talked to everyone, from the players to the management. If there is a championship I would like to stay, but if not I would like to start a normal life again and continue working. There is a big problem in this period, it’s time for the season: a new one will start soon and this worries me ”explained the coach at the end of the match against Hajduk Spalato, the last meeting of the Shakhtar Global Tour for Peace.

MESSAGE TO UKRAINE

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The Donetsk team was at the top of the table when the championship was stopped. But faced with a tragedy of similar magnitude, De Zerbi doesn’t care: “At the moment I don’t think about football at all. My decision to stay here does not depend on the opportunity to play in the Champions League or on the quality of the squad that I will have at my disposal. It was very important for me to conclude this phase together, because if I had left earlier I would not have been able to complete our journey ”. The coach therefore wanted to send a message of gratitude to all Ukrainians. “I am with you, I like to be with good people, courageous, proud, with dignity. People taught me a lot, my staff and I are leaving now, but I think we have become better people thanks to Ukraine. Shakhtar can count on President Akhmetov’s enthusiasm. As long as he has this passion, he will always do a great deal for this company. Only the war will be able to stop it ”he concluded.