A fantastic team performance!
Sunday, December 14, 2025
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Press conference of Shakhtar head coach Arda Turan after the UPL game against Epicentr (5-0)
– I want to congratulate my footballers – an excellent, simply fantastic performance from them! A fully deserved result, in my opinion. When they deserve praise, we must give it, so today I sincerely want to thank them for this match. Looking at the game, from the 1st to the 90th minute we completely controlled the flow of play; everything happened exactly as we had planned in preparation for this encounter. This applies both to their behaviour on the pitch and to the desire, determination to achieve the result and following the instructions I gave them, starting from the pre-match preparation. We will also analyse this game to see how we might have influenced the outcome even more through certain details. However, I’m completely satisfied with today’s match and want once again to sincerely congratulate my footballers.
– You started your journey in the Ukrainian Championship against Epicentr and today you finished 2025 in the UPL with the same opponents. What systemic and tactical changes have you already noticed in your team’s play?
– It’s important to emphasise that Shakhtar had many incredible coaches before my arrival: Marino Pusic and other specialists who worked with the team before me. Shakhtar were already renowned for their football culture at all levels – from the club’s president Rinat Akhmetov to the work carried out by CEO Serhii Palkin, and I can also highlight the work of Darijo Srna. This is a system built over many years, which has been producing results for many, many seasons. From my side, I must preserve this culture and enhance the details that contribute to the team’s overall success. Specifically, this means strengthening our defence to concede even fewer goals and scoring more when we attack. Looking back over the six months I’ve spent working in Ukraine, I believe we have done quite a good job improving the details. Of course, there is still a lot of work ahead, but I’m already very pleased with how some players have progressed. Despite all the difficult circumstances around us, the exhausting travels and the long season both physically and mentally, I’m glad that my players did not break down; on the contrary, they faced these challenges with the right attitude.
– Today it was announced that Prosper Obah from LNZ has joined you. How do you assess this player and what strengths did you focus on when signing him? And can this be seen as weakening your main competitors?
– First of all, I want to emphasise that Prosper Obah is very strong technically and also an excellent sprinter. What is particularly important is his ability to defend the ball well and engage collectively in defensive actions. We have been monitoring him since the start of the season, so this had nothing to do with any personal meeting. Although we officially announced the transfer today, the concrete discussions about this move started a month ago. I don’t consider that we were trying to weaken our main current competitors. Three months ago, when we sold Sudakov, no one asked us if it weakened Shakhtar. Furthermore, looking at the logic of events, two months ago our main competitors were considered to be Polissia and Dynamo. So yes, I really like the fighting spirit and character that LNZ showed as a team and Prosper Obah demonstrated in that match against us. However, I also consider framing it as an attempt to weaken the competitors as a form of disrespect towards the footballer himself.
– Hello! I’m a journalist for the Podruzhky children’s TV project. Thank you for the game and I have a question: footballers and coaches aren’t just a squad, they’re a team you go through different stages with during the season, so have you ever had to choose exactly the right words to support and motivate each player in difficult moments as a coach?
– First of all, welcome here and thank you for taking the time to visit us. You dress very elegantly and, in general, are very sweet. I sincerely wish that your life is as colourful and bright as your outfit. Returning to your question, I know the value of words, so I try never to waste them. Throughout my career, both as a player and as a coach, I think today I said probably the most sincere wishes I have ever given. What words are used depends on the situation. In our team, I always emphasise to all the players that they are my friends and brothers. Even if I can be aggressive and very emotional on the bench, that never carries over into our personal interactions. And after matches, whenever possible, I can have dinner, breakfast or lunch with them, or just chat about different topics. Because I believe a football career will one day end, but good, friendly relationships should remain with everyone you share your journey with. As a personal example, I still keep in touch with Neymar, my former Barcelona teammate. There are countless examples like this. So I always stress to the players that even when I’m angry, it’s only to convey my emotion and motivate them for the game. Above all, they are my friends and brothers.
– Shakhtar are going into the winter break in second spot in the league, with an important match against Rijeka still ahead. How would you assess the past six months of the Ukrainian Championship – what has it been like for you? And evaluate Shakhtar’s European campaign.
– As I’ve said before, Ukrainians are truly fantastic specialists on the coaching bench. I don’t want to return to the topic of LNZ again, but I cannot fail to recognise their fantastic performance this season. And the head coach deserves a great deal of credit for that. Yesterday I watched LNZ’s match and was genuinely impressed by how motivated they were to fight and achieve results. So they, along with the other teams, have my full respect. I can say the same about the head coaches of Polissia, Dynamo and other Ukrainian specialists. Overall, looking at the league, I’m really happy to be here and sincerely hope that, in time, Ukrainian stadiums will once again be able to fill with thousands of fans for their matches because that is truly what the Ukrainian Championship and the Ukrainian people deserve. I also greatly appreciate the efforts and work of those involved in sports competitions in Ukraine, who try to create the best possible conditions for matches. Wherever we go, we are always surrounded by quality pitches. In general, I value the way people try to organise all the aspects around football. Regarding our European journey, it may not have met the goals we set or our expectations, but I tend to believe that a European campaign should be built step by step, following the principle that one should not rush too much in pursuing own desires. You need to move forward gradually, step by step.
– You started your journey in the Ukrainian Championship against Epicentr and today you finished 2025 in the UPL with the same opponents. What systemic and tactical changes have you already noticed in your team’s play?
– It’s important to emphasise that Shakhtar had many incredible coaches before my arrival: Marino Pusic and other specialists who worked with the team before me. Shakhtar were already renowned for their football culture at all levels – from the club’s president Rinat Akhmetov to the work carried out by CEO Serhii Palkin, and I can also highlight the work of Darijo Srna. This is a system built over many years, which has been producing results for many, many seasons. From my side, I must preserve this culture and enhance the details that contribute to the team’s overall success. Specifically, this means strengthening our defence to concede even fewer goals and scoring more when we attack. Looking back over the six months I’ve spent working in Ukraine, I believe we have done quite a good job improving the details. Of course, there is still a lot of work ahead, but I’m already very pleased with how some players have progressed. Despite all the difficult circumstances around us, the exhausting travels and the long season both physically and mentally, I’m glad that my players did not break down; on the contrary, they faced these challenges with the right attitude.
– Today it was announced that Prosper Obah from LNZ has joined you. How do you assess this player and what strengths did you focus on when signing him? And can this be seen as weakening your main competitors?
– First of all, I want to emphasise that Prosper Obah is very strong technically and also an excellent sprinter. What is particularly important is his ability to defend the ball well and engage collectively in defensive actions. We have been monitoring him since the start of the season, so this had nothing to do with any personal meeting. Although we officially announced the transfer today, the concrete discussions about this move started a month ago. I don’t consider that we were trying to weaken our main current competitors. Three months ago, when we sold Sudakov, no one asked us if it weakened Shakhtar. Furthermore, looking at the logic of events, two months ago our main competitors were considered to be Polissia and Dynamo. So yes, I really like the fighting spirit and character that LNZ showed as a team and Prosper Obah demonstrated in that match against us. However, I also consider framing it as an attempt to weaken the competitors as a form of disrespect towards the footballer himself.
– Hello! I’m a journalist for the Podruzhky children’s TV project. Thank you for the game and I have a question: footballers and coaches aren’t just a squad, they’re a team you go through different stages with during the season, so have you ever had to choose exactly the right words to support and motivate each player in difficult moments as a coach?
– First of all, welcome here and thank you for taking the time to visit us. You dress very elegantly and, in general, are very sweet. I sincerely wish that your life is as colourful and bright as your outfit. Returning to your question, I know the value of words, so I try never to waste them. Throughout my career, both as a player and as a coach, I think today I said probably the most sincere wishes I have ever given. What words are used depends on the situation. In our team, I always emphasise to all the players that they are my friends and brothers. Even if I can be aggressive and very emotional on the bench, that never carries over into our personal interactions. And after matches, whenever possible, I can have dinner, breakfast or lunch with them, or just chat about different topics. Because I believe a football career will one day end, but good, friendly relationships should remain with everyone you share your journey with. As a personal example, I still keep in touch with Neymar, my former Barcelona teammate. There are countless examples like this. So I always stress to the players that even when I’m angry, it’s only to convey my emotion and motivate them for the game. Above all, they are my friends and brothers.
– Shakhtar are going into the winter break in second spot in the league, with an important match against Rijeka still ahead. How would you assess the past six months of the Ukrainian Championship – what has it been like for you? And evaluate Shakhtar’s European campaign.
– As I’ve said before, Ukrainians are truly fantastic specialists on the coaching bench. I don’t want to return to the topic of LNZ again, but I cannot fail to recognise their fantastic performance this season. And the head coach deserves a great deal of credit for that. Yesterday I watched LNZ’s match and was genuinely impressed by how motivated they were to fight and achieve results. So they, along with the other teams, have my full respect. I can say the same about the head coaches of Polissia, Dynamo and other Ukrainian specialists. Overall, looking at the league, I’m really happy to be here and sincerely hope that, in time, Ukrainian stadiums will once again be able to fill with thousands of fans for their matches because that is truly what the Ukrainian Championship and the Ukrainian people deserve. I also greatly appreciate the efforts and work of those involved in sports competitions in Ukraine, who try to create the best possible conditions for matches. Wherever we go, we are always surrounded by quality pitches. In general, I value the way people try to organise all the aspects around football. Regarding our European journey, it may not have met the goals we set or our expectations, but I tend to believe that a European campaign should be built step by step, following the principle that one should not rush too much in pursuing own desires. You need to move forward gradually, step by step.