Shakhtar relying on Marlos to take them past Roma
Ukraine’s Brazilian-born sensation Marlos has starred for Shakhtar Donetsk on a Champions League run that could see them reach the quarter-finals for only the second time when they go to Roma on Tuesday.
The Ukrainian player of the year for two successive seasons is the engine of a flamboyant Shakhtar side that features 10 South Americans.
Shakhtar edged out the Italians 2-1 at home in Kharkiv in the first leg of their last-16 tie, meaning they head to Rome in driving seat. Shakhtar’s coach Paulo
Fonseca has admitted that
Marlos is
“really important” to his side,
KIEV:
describing him as “magical”. Certainly, having a coach who speaks Portugese helps Marlos and the Brazilians gel into an attacking unit that has flourished in the Champions League. Marlos was named February’s player of the month in Ukraine after scoring four goals and laying on three assists in three matches, leaving Shakhtar sitting pretty atop the table.
“To me, team achievements are much more important,” Marlos said after receiving the award. Marlos played for Sao Paulo before coming to Ukraine in 2012 and settling in nicely.
He first voiced an interest in playing for Ukraine’s national team in 2016 as the struggling country scouted around for help. “If this happens, it will be my gift to Ukrainians for being so welcoming,” Marlos said at the time.
That wish came true in September when he failed to make Brazil’s star-studded squad and was granted Ukrainian citizenship.
It was a decision that endeared him to Ukrainians.
“In this difficult time for Ukraine, many athletes leave, adopting the citizenship of other countries,” said Ukraine coach Andriy Shevchenko.
“But Marlos, on the contrary, tied his future to our state. It would have been foolish not to pick such a player.”
He made his debut against Kosovo in a World Cup qualifier that Ukraine won, although they missed out on a place in Russia. Marlos has found the net 40 times in 158 appearances for Shakhtar and should be an enticing option for Ukraine for years. And his belief in both team and adopted country has helped Shakhtar as they look to return to the quarter-finals.
“We are confident that we will be able to get the result we need in Rome,” Marlos said.