Lucescu says Moyes will succeed ... after Shakhtar

FC Shakhtar Donetsk boss Mircea Lucescu backed his Manchester United FC counterpart David Moyes to overcome his teething pains at Old Trafford, but hoped he would do so after United's Group A visit to the Donbass Arena. Sir Alex Ferguson's replacement said he had no doubt the "results will come" and that he was relishing the UEFA Champions League stage.

Shakhtar
Mircea Lucescu, coach
Champions League matches are always like a holiday for me – I really look forward to these games. Since I became Shakhtar coach, we have brought a lot of big names to Donetsk. Only four great clubs haven't come here yet: Bayern München, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Liverpool. Now United are playing at the Donbass Arena, but we will need to reach the knockout stage if we want to meet Real or Bayern.

I have watched most of United's recent matches and can say that David Moyes hasn't found his best lineup yet, as he is changing four or five players from game to game. The link-up play between their players is not as good as it used to be so the team suffers, which is happening with us too because Shakhtar have a lot of new players.

I know about Moyes's work at Everton – he is clearly one of the best coaches in the Premier League, but he needs time to organise his new team properly. I think Carlo Ancelotti, Manuel Pellegrini and José Mourinho are having the same difficulties. I am sure that sooner or later he will resolve all his present problems, but I hope it will happen after the game in Donetsk.

Weekend result
Saturday: FC Metalurh Donetsk 2-2 Shakhtar (Rakitskiy og 24, Júnior Moraes 51; Alex Teixeira 54, Eduardo 82)
Pyatov; Srna, Kryvtsov, Rakitskiy, Shevchuk; Hübschman, Fernando (Ilsinho 46), Douglas Costa, Alex Teixeira, Taison (Bernard 64); Ferreyra (Eduardo 46).

• Shakhtar have not won away from home in Ukraine's Premier-Liha since 10 August following their draw with Donetsk rivals Metalurh at the weekend. Eduardo's late equaliser was his first club goal since early August.

Team news
Luiz Adriano was Lucescu's only concern going into matchday two, but he insisted the Brazilian had trained with the team, adding: "If nothing bad happens today, he will play for sure."

United
David Moyes, manager
I have been in [difficult] situations very similar to this at my old clubs Everton and Preston. You get on and you do the right things. I haven't changed what I have done. I will continue to do that. The results will come. I have no doubt about that.

I said to win the Champions League you need to have a certain amount of world-class players. That is something we will try and do. Of course we will try and win the Champions League. It is part of the job at Manchester United and I will do everything possible to try and make that happen.

It is always the thing at Manchester United – everyone is interested in them. It is a talking point for everybody throughout the world. That is why it is, for me, the greatest club. It is a great honour to be the manager. Even our arrival here in Donetsk has been greeted with a lot of supporters at the airport. It is a great thing.

Weekend result
Saturday: Manchester United 1-2 West Bromwich Albion FC (Rooney 57; Amalfitano 54, Berahino 67)
De Gea, Jones, Ferdinand, Evans, Büttner; Nani, Carrick, Anderson (Fellaini 68), Kagawa (Januzaj 46); Rooney, Hernández (Van Persie 58).

• Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by West Brom left United with seven points from their opening six Premier League games, their worst start to a season since 1989/90.

Team news
Moyes confirmed that Robin van Persie is fit though the striker may not start in Donetsk. Rio Ferdinand is definitely out with a slight groin problem and Anderson, Fabio and Wilfried Zaha have remained in Manchester.

Match fact
• Shakhtar have won all three previous UEFA Champions League fixtures against English visitors to Donetsk – successes against Arsenal FC in the 2000/01 first group stage (3-0) and 2010/11 group stage (2-1) preceding last term's group victory over Chelsea FC (2-1). Overall their home record against Premier League sides is W4 D1 L0.