We have plans for the Conference League
Friday, August 29, 2025
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Press conference of Shakhtar head coach Arda Turan after the UEFA Conference League play-off second leg against Servette (2-1)
– I think we started the game well: we had possession, but we faced some issues with the speed of the ball, organisation and positioning. Of course, it wasn’t easy, as Servette defended very well and there was heavy rain during the match. In the second half, we conceded a goal over a transition, which was frustrating, because we had worked on this and had a plan to counter it. Then we managed to stay calm and equalise. Our plan was to preserve Kaua Elias for the remainder of the match, as well as to utilise Pedrinho’s strengths when he came on. We are glad that we managed to execute this. We are alas happy with the victory, as it wasn’t easy. We have reached the league phase, and that was our goal – to stay in European competitions. I believe we have now earned the right to make mistakes. Of course, we have plans for this tournament, the Conference League. I don’t know how far we can go, but we have big dreams.
– Congratulations on the win! First question: what’s the situation with Pedro Henrique and Oleh Ocheretko, who were substituted? And what can you say about this worrying trend of many players picking up similar injuries? (ua.tribuna.com)
– I haven’t spoken to the doctor yet. Tomorrow we have a long journey, about 10 hours, to get to Lviv, and on Sunday we have a match. Of course, my players’ health comes first for me, but we’ve played two games of 120 minutes and had around eight or nine matches in August. We’ve gone through this tough period. We try to keep the number of injuries to a minimum, but at the moment, I believe preventing them entirely seems impossible.
– Before the match, the signing of two newcomers was announced. Can we expect any outgoing transfers in the coming days? (ua.tribuna.com)
– Right now, we will determine whether there will be any new transfers or signings during our planning. We continue to invest in young players and are trying to build the team of the future. I want to thank Mr Serhii Palkin, Darijo and Sasha for what they have done. We’ll see what needs to be done next.
– First of all, congratulations on a good performance and the win. At times, you disagreed with the referee’s decisions. One of your managers also received a red card. We saw you a bit angry, disagreeing with these decisions. What can you say about the referee’s performance today? (Swiss media)
– I believe the referees managed the game very well. In life, I’m generally an aggressive person, and I behave this way when defending my players. But today, I didn’t particularly protest. We communicated with the Spanish referees. Regarding the manager from my team, Vitalii, who received a red card, I don’t think he deserved it. It was too harsh a decision, but these things happen in football.
– You will be competing in the Conference League league phase and I’d like to congratulate you on that. Will you continue on this path with the current players or will there be new signings? In my view, Servette are not such a tough team, but in the league phase, the opponents will be much stronger. What do you think about this squad? (Swiss media)
– Do you know how Servette ended up in this qualification? They came down from the Champions League. I believe they have an excellent coach. Today they defended very well, supported by their fans, under heavy rain. I don’t agree with what you just said. In the Euro 2008 qualifiers, I lost to Malta and had a very hard win against Andorra. In football, if you don’t do things properly, you cannot win. In our first meeting with Ilves, we won 6-0 and we couldn’t win in the second. I truly respect the opponents, their strategy on the pitch was good, but sometimes football is just cruel. That’s why I don’t agree with what you said. I believe we did a great job today and I’m proud of my players. I also wish Servette and their coach success in the future as they are a team we respect a lot, together with their manager. And in terms of quality, today’s game could be named a Champions League qualifier as well.
– Congratulations on the win! Today, against a team that defended very well, you relied on a lot of individual qualities, and we saw some players leave the pitch due to injuries. What is your plan for the Conference League, as you will be at least one of the tournament favourites? What will you do if a large number of your players start getting injured, will you continue to rely on individual skill or try something different? (Swiss media)
– Against such a defence, we need offensive solutions. Sometimes we play with a 4–1–5, 3–1–6, or 3–2–5 formation, but our three players are always positioned in the third attacking zone. Of course, we have certain plans, but it’s in the final third where they can use their talent and freedom. I want there to be one player in each corridor initially, and for them to occupy the correct positions, showing reaction both to losing the ball in attack and in defence. Of course, football is a game that is beautiful because of talent: when you make a great strike or play a nutmeg, it’s beautiful. But the most important thing is fidelity to our system, passing and reacting.
– Your team fought and played very well. The players played as if their love for Ukraine is perhaps as strong as that of the Ukrainian army. They fought hard. What did you say to the team before the game? (Swiss media)
– First of all, I want to thank you for that symbolism, but I don’t think what we do can be compared to the Ukrainian army. They are doing a magnificent job. They are defending their country, and football, on the other hand, is just a game. As for what I said to the players, I want them to play matches with titles like “quarter-finals”, “semi-finals” and “final” because they deserve it with their quality and talent For us, this was a final, and I wanted them to have the right to make mistakes because, as I’ve already said, we will have our right to make mistakes in the league phase. This month we’ve played nine matches, every few days, with long trips, and it’s not easy to do it at this level when you’re 18, 19 or 20 years old.
– Congratulations on the win! First question: what’s the situation with Pedro Henrique and Oleh Ocheretko, who were substituted? And what can you say about this worrying trend of many players picking up similar injuries? (ua.tribuna.com)
– I haven’t spoken to the doctor yet. Tomorrow we have a long journey, about 10 hours, to get to Lviv, and on Sunday we have a match. Of course, my players’ health comes first for me, but we’ve played two games of 120 minutes and had around eight or nine matches in August. We’ve gone through this tough period. We try to keep the number of injuries to a minimum, but at the moment, I believe preventing them entirely seems impossible.
– Before the match, the signing of two newcomers was announced. Can we expect any outgoing transfers in the coming days? (ua.tribuna.com)
– Right now, we will determine whether there will be any new transfers or signings during our planning. We continue to invest in young players and are trying to build the team of the future. I want to thank Mr Serhii Palkin, Darijo and Sasha for what they have done. We’ll see what needs to be done next.
– First of all, congratulations on a good performance and the win. At times, you disagreed with the referee’s decisions. One of your managers also received a red card. We saw you a bit angry, disagreeing with these decisions. What can you say about the referee’s performance today? (Swiss media)
– I believe the referees managed the game very well. In life, I’m generally an aggressive person, and I behave this way when defending my players. But today, I didn’t particularly protest. We communicated with the Spanish referees. Regarding the manager from my team, Vitalii, who received a red card, I don’t think he deserved it. It was too harsh a decision, but these things happen in football.
– You will be competing in the Conference League league phase and I’d like to congratulate you on that. Will you continue on this path with the current players or will there be new signings? In my view, Servette are not such a tough team, but in the league phase, the opponents will be much stronger. What do you think about this squad? (Swiss media)
– Do you know how Servette ended up in this qualification? They came down from the Champions League. I believe they have an excellent coach. Today they defended very well, supported by their fans, under heavy rain. I don’t agree with what you just said. In the Euro 2008 qualifiers, I lost to Malta and had a very hard win against Andorra. In football, if you don’t do things properly, you cannot win. In our first meeting with Ilves, we won 6-0 and we couldn’t win in the second. I truly respect the opponents, their strategy on the pitch was good, but sometimes football is just cruel. That’s why I don’t agree with what you said. I believe we did a great job today and I’m proud of my players. I also wish Servette and their coach success in the future as they are a team we respect a lot, together with their manager. And in terms of quality, today’s game could be named a Champions League qualifier as well.
– Congratulations on the win! Today, against a team that defended very well, you relied on a lot of individual qualities, and we saw some players leave the pitch due to injuries. What is your plan for the Conference League, as you will be at least one of the tournament favourites? What will you do if a large number of your players start getting injured, will you continue to rely on individual skill or try something different? (Swiss media)
– Against such a defence, we need offensive solutions. Sometimes we play with a 4–1–5, 3–1–6, or 3–2–5 formation, but our three players are always positioned in the third attacking zone. Of course, we have certain plans, but it’s in the final third where they can use their talent and freedom. I want there to be one player in each corridor initially, and for them to occupy the correct positions, showing reaction both to losing the ball in attack and in defence. Of course, football is a game that is beautiful because of talent: when you make a great strike or play a nutmeg, it’s beautiful. But the most important thing is fidelity to our system, passing and reacting.
– Your team fought and played very well. The players played as if their love for Ukraine is perhaps as strong as that of the Ukrainian army. They fought hard. What did you say to the team before the game? (Swiss media)
– First of all, I want to thank you for that symbolism, but I don’t think what we do can be compared to the Ukrainian army. They are doing a magnificent job. They are defending their country, and football, on the other hand, is just a game. As for what I said to the players, I want them to play matches with titles like “quarter-finals”, “semi-finals” and “final” because they deserve it with their quality and talent For us, this was a final, and I wanted them to have the right to make mistakes because, as I’ve already said, we will have our right to make mistakes in the league phase. This month we’ve played nine matches, every few days, with long trips, and it’s not easy to do it at this level when you’re 18, 19 or 20 years old.