Shakhtar boss Lucescu reveals failed Chelsea bid for Willian
The two clubs face off in the Champions League on Tuesday, and the
Ukrainian side's manager told of the "big mistake" the Blues had made in
not signing the Brazilian attacker
Shakhtar Donetsk boss Mircea Lucescu has urged star man Willian to make Chelsea pay in Tuesday's Champions League clash after confirming that the Blues had been knocked back in attempts to sign the Brazilian in the summer.
Despite Roberto Di Matteo having completed
moves for the likes of Edin Hazard, Oscar and Marko Marin before the
transfer window slammed shut, Lucescu revealed that the Champions League
winners also tried to sign Shakhtar's gifted midfield playmaker.
The
Ukrainian side's manager insists that Chelsea's offer was too low and,
ahead of the crucial Champions League Group E clash at the Donbass Arena
on Tuesday, Lucescu has called on Willian to show Di Matteo he made a
"big mistake" in not securing the 24-year-old's signature.
"Willian was far away from Chelsea," Lucescu told reporters.
"They didn't even get anywhere near to our requirements, having done nothing to make my promises to Willian come true.
"Speaking specifically about the amounts, they officially offered the sum for which we had bought him young.
"I would really like them to highly appreciate his true value tomorrow and realise that they made a big mistake."
Blues
boss Roberto Di Matteo insisted he had no role in negotiations to sign
Willian, but did hail the former Corinthians man as a "fantastic
player".
"As an assistant [at the time] I wasn't involved in
those conversations but Willian is a fantastic player with good
qualities," the Italian commented in his pre-match press conference.
"We
have a good squad with good players and I don't know where his future
is, but the way he is playing here he looks quite happy."
Lucescu
also noted that Chelsea showed an interest in defender Darijo Srna
during Carlo Ancelotti's reign at Stamford Bridge, while also joking he
was keen for club owner Roman Abramovich to show an interest in all of
his players at Shakhtar.
He concluded: "Several years ago, I had a conversation with Ancelotti, and he was interested in Srna.
"My wish is that, after tomorrow's match, Chelsea get interested in all of our players."
Source : Goal.com