We played very well
Thursday, July 17, 2025
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Press conference of Shakhtar head coach Arda Turan after the UEFA Europa League return leg against Ilves
– First of all, I want to thank my players because they played very well. To be honest, I’m more satisfied with this game than the first one. From a mental perspective, we would have liked to win because it’s not easy to push the ball into the penalty area, and we need to understand how valuable that is. It’s an aspect we need to improve. As for the starting eleven and the substitutes, I’m proud of my players and grateful for their serious approach and commitment to the game. There’s still another match ahead, but I look to it with great optimism after the play we showed today.
– In the first half, there was an interesting moment when the team escaped the press through Riznyk with a passing move. Is that a specific instruction from you – to build out from the back through passing? Or does it depend on the situation? (football24.ua)
– In football, improvisation is most dangerous in the first and second zones. And when it’s unplanned, we don’t accept it – even if it ends up working. So if we build an attack successfully but do it without following the plan, we still correct it during training. In the first and second zones, we must stick to our plan 100 percent. In the third zone, we’re more flexible, we allow individual skill to shine and we want to see that. But again: in the first and second zones, football is about structure, and we’re concerned if players improvise there.
– The players had a few good chances to score. What do they need to improve in order to convert such opportunities? (ua.tribuna.com)
– They’ll see that it’s very important to get the ball into the penalty area and that there’s such a thing in this game as understanding the value of the ball. Sometimes, beyond tactics, it comes down to awareness – how crucial it is to deliver the ball there. In football, goals are the fruits and we play this game to score them. That didn’t happen today. We didn’t fully grasp the value of the ball in the right way, but I’m very pleased with what I saw. If you play like this once or twice a year, the result might turn out like it did. But I’m 100 percent convinced that my players will be more focused next time. And, knowing this game the way I do, I can say: there’s no better or more correct way to play it. So I’m very happy with the style and level we showed, especially in the first 25–30 minutes.
– You have another friendly tomorrow. How will you approach the coming week as you prepare for the match against Beşiktaş? (ua.tribuna.com)
– In terms of physical preparation, we’ve treated this period as our pre-season. And starting tomorrow, that stage will be complete in our mind, we’re already at a better physical level. Tomorrow, those who haven’t had much playing time so far will take the field. After that, we’ll have a rest day. From Monday, we’ll spend three days working on tactics. We’ll also get feedback from this match and begin our preliminary analysis of the game against Beşiktaş. Physically, we’re progressing well and are close to the level we’ve aimed for. We’re very pleased with the players’ physical condition. As I said – first the friendly match, then rest, and after that, tactical preparation for the game against Beşiktaş.
– In the first half, there was an interesting moment when the team escaped the press through Riznyk with a passing move. Is that a specific instruction from you – to build out from the back through passing? Or does it depend on the situation? (football24.ua)
– In football, improvisation is most dangerous in the first and second zones. And when it’s unplanned, we don’t accept it – even if it ends up working. So if we build an attack successfully but do it without following the plan, we still correct it during training. In the first and second zones, we must stick to our plan 100 percent. In the third zone, we’re more flexible, we allow individual skill to shine and we want to see that. But again: in the first and second zones, football is about structure, and we’re concerned if players improvise there.
– The players had a few good chances to score. What do they need to improve in order to convert such opportunities? (ua.tribuna.com)
– They’ll see that it’s very important to get the ball into the penalty area and that there’s such a thing in this game as understanding the value of the ball. Sometimes, beyond tactics, it comes down to awareness – how crucial it is to deliver the ball there. In football, goals are the fruits and we play this game to score them. That didn’t happen today. We didn’t fully grasp the value of the ball in the right way, but I’m very pleased with what I saw. If you play like this once or twice a year, the result might turn out like it did. But I’m 100 percent convinced that my players will be more focused next time. And, knowing this game the way I do, I can say: there’s no better or more correct way to play it. So I’m very happy with the style and level we showed, especially in the first 25–30 minutes.
– You have another friendly tomorrow. How will you approach the coming week as you prepare for the match against Beşiktaş? (ua.tribuna.com)
– In terms of physical preparation, we’ve treated this period as our pre-season. And starting tomorrow, that stage will be complete in our mind, we’re already at a better physical level. Tomorrow, those who haven’t had much playing time so far will take the field. After that, we’ll have a rest day. From Monday, we’ll spend three days working on tactics. We’ll also get feedback from this match and begin our preliminary analysis of the game against Beşiktaş. Physically, we’re progressing well and are close to the level we’ve aimed for. We’re very pleased with the players’ physical condition. As I said – first the friendly match, then rest, and after that, tactical preparation for the game against Beşiktaş.