UEFA Cup holders very confident coming to Craven Cottage to play Fulham

Shakhtar Donetsk won the 2009 UEFA Cup against Werder Bremen 2 -1 last season. They come to play Fulham at Craven Cottage this Thursday Night at 8:05PM UK time and 3:05 EST. This is the first leg of the Round of 32 in the Europa League. The second leg will be played the following Thursday at home to Shakhtar Donetsk. This Ukranian club is definitely going to be a huge challenge for Fulham.

Shakhtar Donetsk finished their league last year in second place. They currently sit second in the Ukrainian Premier League. They are 2 points behind Dynamo Kiev halfway through their season. What is interesting is they have not played a league game since mid December. The Ukranian Premier League has a winter break. The team should be fairly fresh to face Roy Hogdson's Fulham squad.

The Ukrainian team actually has been training in England. According to the club's official website the team went to the F A Cup match that Roy Hogdson's Cottagers played on Sunday against Notts County. The article has some thoughts on Craven Cottage and also that some of the players were recognized in the crowd.

The article from the Press Office of FC Shakhtar on the official website also has some interesting thoughts on Fulham. According to the Press office of FC Shakhtar states " By and large the Shakhtar players agreed that our future rival hasn't amazed us by anything special. To play against them is possible,very possible. Of course, we shouldn't play relaxed and should concetrate fully." The article by the Press office of FC Shakhtar continues to go on and has some praise for Bobby Zamora and Fulham's defenders. Finally, According to the Press office of FC Shakhtar also has praise for the fans.

Based on the official website of Shakhtar Donetsk, it sounds like to me the Ukranian team is very confident going into the Europa league match. I am fine with Fulham playing a team that believes they should win. If Fulham want to move forward in the Europa League why not take on the champion. I am sure Bobby Zamora and the rest of the team are looking forward to playing this game. If Fulham win in the round of 32 it should give them more confidence heading into the last part of the season.