“I'm in my room, it's a bad day. I waited a long time for the federation to suspend the championship, ever since what happened with the Donbass, but I didn't move, because I'm here to play sports and I couldn't turn my back on the championship, on the fans who follow us. "
Speaking is Roberto De Zerbi, Italian coach of the Ukrainian team of Shaktar Donets, also awakened by the bombings.
"I have thirteen Brazilian boys, my staff, we could have gone home at least until there was safety, but we waited. And tonight the explosions woke us up".
This morning the Ukrainian championship was suspended: “From the windows of the Opera hotel we saw rows of moving cars, I think they are going to Poland. The Italian Embassy had urged us to leave but I could not, I repeat, a sportsman, turn my back on the club, on football and go like this. And in the end they closed the airspace and we are here ”.
The situation is very delicate: “At least for now I don't think we are at risk - continues De Zerbi -, I came here to play sports and I arm myself with patience. I'm not here for money, they offered me more in Italy, but to gain experience. And now I wait, this is also an experience, but sad. I think of the great Maradona who, when needed, said what he thought of the masters of football ".
(Unioneonline / L)