It is not a balanced Ukrainian team that will come to Barcelona in a week’s time when Shakhtar Donetsk pave the way next Wednesday at the Estadi Olímpic, because just a week before the meeting, they have changed their coach.
A change of coach is an indication that something is not working. Therefore, it is not good news for Ukrainian Shakhtar Donetsk that they have felt compelled to replace Dutchman Patrick van Leeuwen after just over three months in the post.
Shakhtar announced the change yesterday in an official announcement, without further explanation. The team occupies third place in the local league, while in the Champions League group H they have started with a win and a defeat.
The new coach will be club legend Darijo Srna, who will now lead the team. The Croatian has the club record with 536 games, and until the change of coach he had the role of sporting director. Now it will be Srna who will be on the sidelines in the middle of next week at the Estadi Olímpic Lluis Companys on the Montjuic mountain.
