Shakhtar boss takes aim at Arsenal's Premier League form ahead of Champions League clash

Despite a grueling 13-hour journey from Kyiv due to the ongoing war with Russia, Shakhtar Donetsk's manager Marino Pushych insists his side are not looking for sympathy ahead of their Champions League clash with Arsenal at the Emirates. The Ukrainian champions have been undertaking an arduous trek that included a training stop in Lviv before flying out from Rzeszow to London.

The displacement is nothing new for Shakhtar, who've been playing all matches away since the Russian invasion forced them from their home turf last February. Under these circumstances, they have adopted Schalke's stadium in Germany as their temporary home ground for European fixtures.

Pushych stated: "This is a fact," acknowledging the extreme travel demands but refusing to see them as a hindrance: "We face these, I wouldn’t call them problems. In general, it is unbelievable how we have to travel for these away matches."

He added, stressing the resilience and motivation of his squad: "In fact, I have to say that we play all matches away from home, let’s start with that, unfortunately. Yes, we drove for 13 hours, it is a very difficult move that takes a lot of time and energy."

And emphasized their mental fortitude: "At the same time, we are a very motivated team and we are mentally ready. So, despite all these circumstances, we did not come here to complain. This is simply a fact that, unfortunately, we constantly face."

Pushych's team is adapting to their new reality, aiming to bounce back from a 3-0 defeat by Atalanta in Germany before the international break.

Shakhtar boss Ihor Pushych has highlighted the hardship of their situation amid conflict back home in Ukraine but remains defiant, "I think we are the only club in the world at this level to be in such conditions," Pushych declared. He emphasized their strong sense of competition over complaints, asserting, "It doesn’t make it any easier for us, but like I said, we’re a team that came here to compete, not to complain. And we play football."

Despite being off their usual pace this season and sitting fourth in the Ukrainian league, Shakhtar have history on their side, having previously bested Arsenal - most notably during a 2-1 win in the Champions League group stage in 2010.

Pushych was quick to point out following Arsenal’s shock 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth, "If you are competing for the top spot for three or four years in what I think is the best league in the world, as Arsenal do, then your club is one of the best in the world," Nevertheless, he warned of the vulnerabilities that every team faces, stating, "But with each new opponent, with each successive team, you can lose, even if you are as strong as Arsenal. And the longer this series lasts, the more chances there are to lose. It is logical."

While acknowledging Arsenal's setback against Bournemouth, Pushych noted the mitigating circumstances: "Of course, this does not tell the whole story, because a game is a game. They received an early red card and playing in the minority for 60-65 minutes is quite difficult."