Inter defender Stefan de Vrij does not expect the Nerazzurri to have it all their own way in this evening’s Champions League group stage clash with Shakhtar Donetsk.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, the 29-year-old gave his thoughts on the challenges posed by the Ukrainian side and on the Nerazzurri’s aims going into the match.
Inter will be desperate for a result against Roberto De Zerbi’s men, having failed to get anything out of their group stage opener against Real Madrid which they lost despite an encouraging performance.
However, Shakhtar will also be motivated to take everything they can from the match, having been disappointed to lose 2-0 against Sheriff Tiraspol in their opener.
De Vrij makes clear that the Ukrainian team have real quality and will be able to hurt the Nerazzurri, and that he and his teammates expect to be at their best to get the result they want from the match.
“We know their coach very well, he is very good,” he said of De Zerbi. “He made Sassuolo play very well, they were good in possession, they always looked good so I expect an opponent similar to Sassuolo.”
He went on, “Last year Shakhtar played very well, perhaps because we had won 5-0 in the Europa League, and we weren’t able to score. I think tomorrow will be a different game.”
“We want to do well and win tomorrow,” he said. “Despite what happened in the past we always want to win.”
And on whether the match will prove decisive for qualification for the knockout rounds he said, “Not yet, but it is certainly very important since we lost the first game. It is important to get points and bring home the result.”
