Juande Ramos has backed Athletic Bilbao to thrive in the Champions League, starting against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday.
Ramos spent four years working in Ukraine as Coach of Dnipro and saw Shakhtar at close quarters.
He has told an interview with AS that Athletic have enough quality to see off Shakhtar and make an impact upon their return to the competition.
“I saw the game at Camp Nou [on Saturday]. They were very brave against Barca,” the former Sevilla boss said.
“They’re a solid team and Shakhtar will suffer. Athletic’s football will suit the Champions League. Ernesto Valverde is doing a good job.”
Ramos also gave an insight into football in Ukraine, comparing the country’s top teams with their Spanish counterparts.
“Shakhtar and Dynamo Kiev are like Real Madrid and Barcelona,” he explained.
“And then it was us and Metalist Kharkiv, kind of like Athletic. We tried to change the habits and fight for titles.
“We were runners-up, the highest position in the club’s history. But that stage is over.”
Ramos is on the look-out for a new job and confirmed he would consider taking in a fourth different League, after experience in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur and Russia with CSKA Moscow.
“A cycle of four years is a lot for a Coach. Let’s see where football takes me now,” he added.