Lucescu ponders what might have been for Shakhtar

Ivan Jovanović, APOEL coach
There is no such thing as a sweet defeat. We should take joy from the fact that we are through. The games in the next round will be different to the ones in the group. Our passage into the round of 16 is unprecedented and I hope it will not be the only time. When you look at our opponents tonight, who didn't qualify, it just goes to show how incredible our achievement is.

Our confidence and experience from two years ago, when we also in the competition, were the catalysts for our campaign. We knew our strengths and weaknesses. We also knew that our opponents would be stronger than us but that there would be opportunities in the games that we could seize.

Maybe we could have done things better during this game but we shouldn't forget that they are better than us. Shakhtar are a superior team with superior players. They didn't allow us to do what we wanted to do and it would be unfair of me not to recognise their quality.

Mircea Lucescu, Shakhtar coach
I'm very satisfied with the result and my players because they stuck to the system that I instructed them to follow. We deserved a better result from the start but football is not always fair. We paid for our mistakes even though we created 50 chances to score. APOEL and their defence proved to be stronger than us. I want to congratulate APOEL, especially the coach, and I wish them every success. I'm very disappointed and sad that we haven't gone through. I know the talent of my players.