18.11.2025 08:00
Shakhtar Donetsk's head coach Arda Turan made statements regarding the agenda and the future of the team. Speaking about his biggest dream and goal, Arda Turan said, "One of my biggest dreams and goals is to win the championship. I hope we can achieve this."
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The head coach of Ukrainian representative Shakhtar Donetsk, Arda Turan, stated that there were days when they had to go down to the shelter for security reasons due to the bombing of their region. Speaking to the English sports channel Sky Sports, Arda Turan mentioned that they experienced many negative events upon returning to Ukraine after their match against Scottish team Aberdeen in the first week of the UEFA Conference League, but he emphasized that he has never been someone who hides behind excuses in his life.
''THE BOMBS CAME, WE WENT TO THE SHELTER''
Emphasizing that the bombing incident is not something to be taken lightly, Turan said, "The bombs came the night before the next match (LNZ Cherkasy). We went to the shelter. It may sound strange, but we weren't afraid; we were just worried about our loved ones. We couldn't sleep at all that night. We can never know under what conditions we will play the match." he stated.
Stating that Shakhtar Donetsk's young fan Roman is his source of inspiration, Turan said, "I was sad because it was a critical match for us. And this child named Roman, who underwent 35 surgeries due to the injuries he sustained when his home was bombed, came to visit us in the locker room." he expressed.
Noting that the league match they played in Lviv was critical and that he felt great sadness for losing, Turan mentioned that Roman comforted the team in the locker room and told him, "Sir, don't be sad. There are good days and bad days in life. You must keep going."
''MY BIGGEST DREAM''
The young head coach stated that they aim for the league championship, expressing that achieving this is a dream for him, saying, "One of my biggest dreams and goals is the championship. I hope we can achieve this."
''YOU NEED TO STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE''
Expressing that the conditions the team is in are not encouraging, the 38-year-old coach said, "To be successful, you need to step out of your comfort zone. Yes, this is a big challenge for very young players. But at the same time, it is an opportunity to develop a team, learn, and compete. I want this responsibility. I believe I can learn a lot here." he stated.
''WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE''
Stating that he tries to do his best for the Shakhtar Donetsk fans, Turan continued:
"We must respect our work and give 100% for those who follow us. But on the other hand, this is entertainment; it is not as real as life. We need to understand the difference. It was Roman who taught me this life lesson. In a normal club, you can return home a few hours after a trip. But here, it is not like that. Sometimes it takes more than a day, and you can only start working again after 48 hours. It is not easy for Shakhtar, as they are in Europe and play every match away." he expressed.
''THE CLUB'S STRATEGY WAS THIS''
Highlighting that there are many missing players in the squad, Arda Turan said, "We lost some of our players, but our squad is now filled with young footballers who are open to development. This was the club's strategy. I agree with it and respect it. Instead of acquiring complete players, we want to continue with players who have great potential." he stated.
Expressing his trust in the young players in his team, Turan said, "Isaque is 18 years old, Kaua Elias is 19 years old, Lucas Ferreira is 19 years old, Luca Meirelles is 18 years old. Sometimes they play poorly because they are young, but we do not take away their right to make mistakes. And when you win, the joy is a completely different feeling." he evaluated.
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