It’s impossible to dream modestly with our coach
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
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Shakhtar analyst Mert Somay spoke about himself and shared his impressions of working with the team in an interview with the club’s media
– Tell us about yourself and your responsibilities at Shakhtar?
– My name is Mert Somay. I was born in 1986 in Istanbul. I started my journey in the Beşiktaş Academy and, after 10 years there, played professionally in Türkiye for 20 years. Last year, I joined Arda Turan’s staff. We have been working together for a year and a half, and we had a successful campaign in the Turkish Süper Lig last season. Now at Shakhtar, I’m an analyst coach, and together with Radion Paltsun, we do everything for the team’s success.
– How did you react to Shakhtar’s interest and what did you feel when you joined the club?
– We were very excited. We have known what a great club this is since we played football ourselves. After arriving, we were warmly welcomed, which motivated and helped us focus more easily on our work.
– What are your main expectations for the players?
– We have a very young and talented team – we are aware of that. At the same time, we have a young, talented and experienced coach. This is a great opportunity for both sides, so it’s easy to dream. The immediate goal is the match against Ilves, but of course, we have bigger ambitions after that.
– You have completed the pre-season camp. What are your impressions of the team’s hard work at training sessions?
– Time is limited, so we try to get everything done and work hard. At first, the training sessions were intense, but now the pace has slowed a bit. However, the players have responded well, and we are very pleased with all of them.
– What football dreams, goals and ambitions do you have with Shakhtar?
– Honestly, our football dreams are limitless because our coach has experienced the highest level of the game. With him, it’s impossible to dream modestly.
– My name is Mert Somay. I was born in 1986 in Istanbul. I started my journey in the Beşiktaş Academy and, after 10 years there, played professionally in Türkiye for 20 years. Last year, I joined Arda Turan’s staff. We have been working together for a year and a half, and we had a successful campaign in the Turkish Süper Lig last season. Now at Shakhtar, I’m an analyst coach, and together with Radion Paltsun, we do everything for the team’s success.
– How did you react to Shakhtar’s interest and what did you feel when you joined the club?
– We were very excited. We have known what a great club this is since we played football ourselves. After arriving, we were warmly welcomed, which motivated and helped us focus more easily on our work.
– What are your main expectations for the players?
– We have a very young and talented team – we are aware of that. At the same time, we have a young, talented and experienced coach. This is a great opportunity for both sides, so it’s easy to dream. The immediate goal is the match against Ilves, but of course, we have bigger ambitions after that.
– You have completed the pre-season camp. What are your impressions of the team’s hard work at training sessions?
– Time is limited, so we try to get everything done and work hard. At first, the training sessions were intense, but now the pace has slowed a bit. However, the players have responded well, and we are very pleased with all of them.
– What football dreams, goals and ambitions do you have with Shakhtar?
– Honestly, our football dreams are limitless because our coach has experienced the highest level of the game. With him, it’s impossible to dream modestly.