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Agence France Presse -
January 14, 2013 Monday 9:37 AM GMT
Football: Shakhtar can beat Borussia, says Mkhitaryan
Donetsk, Ukraine, Jan 14 2013
Shakhtar Donetsk are capable of defeating Germany's Borussia Dortmund
to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League, the Ukraine
champion's midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan believes.
The two sides will face up to each other home and away in the
tournament's last 16 in February.
"Everyone knows that there are no weak opponents in the Champions
League play-off round," Armenian international Mkhitaryan, who last
month was voted Armenian player of the year for the third time, told
AFP.
"I think that both matches with Borussia will be very interesting as
the clubs seem to be even and have equal chances of advancing.
"We will try to get a positive result against Borussia but I think it
will be a really tough task, they are very strong opponents.
"And we need to stay concentrated throughout both matches with the
German champions as even a single mistake against them can be fatal."
The 23-year-old Mkhitaryan said that Borussia, who trail 12 points
behind Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich on the homefront, will be
doubly keen for success on the European stage.
"Borussia are a very good and experienced team led by a strong
manager, who understands football really well," he said.
"They are extremely dangerous on the counter-attack. They beat Real
Madrid and Manchester City in their group and I have no doubts that we
will need to perform at our top level to overcome them."
Mkhitaryan added that Shakhtar and their ambitious owner Rinat
Akhmetov had set their sights high for this season.
"We are determined at the club to get the maximums result this season.
In the Champions League we are aiming to win every single match
remaining in the tournament. If we manage to do it we will win the
tournament.
"We want to progress. If we manage to beat Borussia it will definitely
be a success for us. Only after that can we start to think about our
next opponents."
Shakhtar are currently top of the Ukraine league with 51 points from
18 matches, 13 points ahead of second-placed Dnepropetrovsk. The
league will resu,e on March 2 after the winter break.
January 14, 2013 Monday 9:37 AM GMT
Football: Shakhtar can beat Borussia, says Mkhitaryan
Donetsk, Ukraine, Jan 14 2013
Shakhtar Donetsk are capable of defeating Germany's Borussia Dortmund
to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League, the Ukraine
champion's midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan believes.
The two sides will face up to each other home and away in the
tournament's last 16 in February.
"Everyone knows that there are no weak opponents in the Champions
League play-off round," Armenian international Mkhitaryan, who last
month was voted Armenian player of the year for the third time, told
AFP.
"I think that both matches with Borussia will be very interesting as
the clubs seem to be even and have equal chances of advancing.
"We will try to get a positive result against Borussia but I think it
will be a really tough task, they are very strong opponents.
"And we need to stay concentrated throughout both matches with the
German champions as even a single mistake against them can be fatal."
The 23-year-old Mkhitaryan said that Borussia, who trail 12 points
behind Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich on the homefront, will be
doubly keen for success on the European stage.
"Borussia are a very good and experienced team led by a strong
manager, who understands football really well," he said.
"They are extremely dangerous on the counter-attack. They beat Real
Madrid and Manchester City in their group and I have no doubts that we
will need to perform at our top level to overcome them."
Mkhitaryan added that Shakhtar and their ambitious owner Rinat
Akhmetov had set their sights high for this season.
"We are determined at the club to get the maximums result this season.
In the Champions League we are aiming to win every single match
remaining in the tournament. If we manage to do it we will win the
tournament.
"We want to progress. If we manage to beat Borussia it will definitely
be a success for us. Only after that can we start to think about our
next opponents."
Shakhtar are currently top of the Ukraine league with 51 points from
18 matches, 13 points ahead of second-placed Dnepropetrovsk. The
league will resu,e on March 2 after the winter break.