Giorgi Sudakov: Symbol of Shakhtar and Marseille’s biggest threat ahead of Europa League tie | OneFootball

In war-torn Ukraine, Giorgi Sudakov (21) has become a symbol of the continued resistance of FC Shakhtar Donetsk and an emblem of a generation raised in the realities of a country under siege.

The young captain of Shakhtar spoke to L’Équipe ahead of the club’s Europa League playoff tie with Olympique de Marseille. A conversation done remotely and one that had to be triangulated so as to not reveal the location of the gem at the heart of Shakhtar’s midfield.

“My daughter and wife are fine. They are in Kyiv despite the fighting. Daily life is difficult, we live in different cities depending on availability.” Sudakov explained. “As players, we try to concentrate on what we have to do, on getting results, because that’s what we’ve been asked to do.”

And results are what Sudakov has achieved with club and country. He became a league winner for the first time last season, making 39 appearances across all competitions for Shakhtar. Whilst, with the Ukrainian u21s, he helped his nation reach the semifinals of the Euros, knocking out France in the process. Since then Sudakov has made the progression to the national setup and will help Ukraine attempt to navigate the Euro playoffs ahead of the upcoming summer tournament.

‘It’s not our home, but we try to act like it’

Shakhtar had narrowly missed out on progression to the Round of 16 in the Champions League, despite having beaten FC Barcelona during their run. A disappointing loss to FC Porto in the final match of the group stages confirmed 3rd place and a drop into the Europa League.

Ostensibly the match against Marseille will be a home tie for the Ukrainian side, but will be played in the safety of their neighbouring nation Germany. “We are used to it now, before we played in Poland… and in Germany, we feel good. In Hamburg, we are well supported, there are people at the stadium, and we feel that people are behind us. It’s not our house. It’s not our home, but we try to act like it.”

The war is never particularly far from the minds of the players but football provides a temporary escape, as Sudakov explains, “At Shakhtar, we have Volodymyr Seheda, our u19s goalkeeper, who chose to join the Ukrainian army last April. We constantly think about what is happening, about our loved ones under the bombs. The only time we don’t think about it is when we’re playing… it allows us to escape, to not think about it much, even if that’s impossible.”

A Premier League move in waiting for Giorgi Sudakov?

Sudakov’s talent has constantly raised comparisons with his compatriots Mykhailo Mudryk (23) and Oleksandr Zinchenko (27) playing in the Premier League, with some even suggesting that Shakhtar’s captain is an even more exciting talent than the two.

A sentiment that Andriy Vorobey, the ex-Shakhtar legend, expressed, “If he continues to develop and progress, he will be a top player. Believe me, Sudakov will surpass Zinchencko and Mudryk: both in value and in performance.” Whilst, Sudakov’s former B team manager, Fernando Valente, referred to him as “a kid with enormous potential, even to play for teams like Barcelona or Manchester City. He was the greatest talent I’ve trained.”

Sudakov has brushed off these comparisons, refusing to entertain the notion, “I can’t say that I’m better than them but I’m happy to be told it.” However, it is clear to see that there is something potentially spectacular about the young midfielder. And the top European teams will likely soon come calling, for a player whose career looks destined to be forged on Champions League nights, “I’ll be happy when it happens.”

The Premier League in particular seems like a likely home for a midfielder whose playing style can at times reflect the creativity and steel that once made Luka Modrić such a dazzling talent in England. And his close friendship with Mudryk brings out an interesting prospect for Chelsea, something that has not been missed by his former teammate at Shakhtar, Anatoliy Trubin (22), “they have such a level of mutual understanding on and off the pitch that not only Giorgi but also Mykhalio would benefit from this move.”

Shakhtar’s greatest threat

However, for the here and now, Sudakov’s focus remains solely on the present. On playing in Ukraine, “it would already be very positive if we could play in Lviv, Kyiv, or elsewhere. The big idea, the hope, is to bring football home. That would be a good start. We are convinced that we will come back soon.” And on overcoming Marseille, a feat he believes the team are more than “capable of, for lots of reasons, we are a real team that likes aggressive attacking football.”

Sudakov looks like he could prove to be the biggest threat to Marseille’s hopes of progressing in this tournament. The playmaker recorded an average passing accuracy of 82% in the Champions League, and he has combined this intense ability to knit passes through a team’s defence with an increasingly observant eye for goal. In particular, his strike against Barcelona showed an understanding of space and timing that could trouble a Marseille side who have struggled to keep a clean sheet since early December.

This will likely prove an interesting contest, and Marseille will be wary of facing a fearless Shakhtar side, as Sudakov looks to guide his team deep into the competition and demonstrate the resilience still found in Ukraine, an attitude cultivated only by the hardship of a generation that has had to endure; a generation that the young captain has come to represent.

GFFN | Nick Hartland