Joonas Rantanen expressed pride in his team's performance following a goalless draw against "Shakhtar" Donetsk in the return match of the Europa League first qualifying round.
"I'm proud of the team. Today their dedication and work ethic were excellent. We changed our formation and played with four players in defense, although we didn't have time to train properly," said the Ilves head coach.
The Finnish tactician was particularly pleased with how his squad adapted to tactical changes despite limited preparation time. He believes the new formation showed promise and could be implemented in future matches.
Rantanen specifically highlighted one player who stood out during the challenging encounter. "If I had to single someone out, it would be Ville Kumpu, who had a really quality performance today," he noted.
The match wasn't without its difficulties for the Finnish side. "Shakhtar" created several goal-scoring opportunities, but Ilves managed to avoid defensive collapses. For Rantanen, this resilience was key to securing what he described as a "satisfactory, even good result."
Interestingly, the coach's tactical adjustment involved significant personnel changes. Many players in the starting lineup were different from the previous match, yet still delivered performances that impressed their manager.
"We should remember that next Thursday we have European cup matches ahead. This home experience – what we were able to do today – will give us confidence before the home game," Rantanen explained through the club's press service.
The team now faces another strong opponent in European competition. Will the experience gained from these two matches against "Shakhtar" help them adapt to the challenges ahead?
