The key to success is playing the right way
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
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Press conference of Shakhtar head coach Arda Turan ahead of the UEFA Europa League match against Beşiktaş
– Good evening to everyone! Football is beautiful because of its wonderful stories and we’re about to witness another great story at this stadium with such rich heritage. I’m truly happy and excited to return to my country so soon as the coach of Shakhtar. I wanted to share this feeling with all of you, as well as with the Turkish people. We’re looking forward to the match. Beşiktaş are a special community with their own culture, fans, coaches and especially players and this situation, of course, greatly motivates us. Last season, they managed to beat Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, and Athletic Bilbao right here. When you play here, it’s not just about playing well or poorly – what matters is making the right decisions at the right moments, and that also gives us huge motivation. We’ll try to be as prepared as possible tomorrow. Yes, we have a young team with players who have great potential, but I also believe these are young big players. We won’t take a step back and we will be ready. Whoever is knocked out at this stage, I believe it will be disappointing and upsetting: because it’s a real pity that two such strong teams have to face each other this early. I believe it will be a great match in that sense.
– Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s Beşiktaş play a style of football based on quick attacks and transitions. They also have a new squad. On the other hand, you joined Shakhtar recently and we know your style well: ball possession and high pressing in the opponents’ half. Would you say that tomorrow we’ll see a clash of two different football philosophies? (BeInSports)
– Thank you for that great question. But last season, under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Beşiktaş scored over 60 percent of their goals from transitions. That was during a period when they had a lot of success, so I believe it depends more on the players’ profiles. Big teams like Shakhtar and Beşiktaş can play in a way that the match situation, scoreline or atmosphere demands. We’ll be ready to play in both styles: we can dominate with ball control or we can play more direct football. Of course, I don’t want to give up ball control because I’ve seen very few teams win while defending most of the time. In fact, I’ve been in one of those teams – it was Atlético. You could also mention Greece’s win at Euro 2004. But apart from those two, I think the vast majority of teams that have won the Euros or the Champions League dominated with possession and passing. So we want to control the ball, dominate the game and stay true to our philosophy. But when two big teams meet, it’s sure to be an interesting game. Again, I believe the key to success tomorrow will be playing the right way at the right moments.
– Last season, Eyüpspor were the third-highest scoring team in the Turkish Süper Lig and also one of the sides with the highest ball possession. Perhaps that success led to your move to Shakhtar this year. On the other hand, last season Shakhtar were rather inefficient in attack and were among the teams with the fewest entries into the penalty area. Do you think Shakhtar’s attacking play requires changes? Also, in the UPL, Shakhtar conceded 11 goals in the final 15 minutes and were among the top two in that statistic. We heard that Shakhtar had three training sessions a day as part of their physical preparation. Are you satisfied with the team’s fitness? (Newspaper Karar)
– First of all, thank you very much for those questions, I genuinely appreciate them. I think it shows we’re making progress in how we approach and understand the game, so thank you. I have respect for every approach and don’t believe last year’s plan was bad – it also had its own legacy, ball control. But personally, I believe our attacking players need to be closer to the box and always operate between the lines, rather than receiving the ball far from the defensive block. In my view, it’s more valuable to make a few passes inside the block than twenty outside it. That’s what will make us more effective. They need to enter the half-spaces more frequently. This is something I learned from Rijkaard. He told me: if you receive the ball from the centre-backs in the middle of the pitch and dribble past five players, it changes nothing. Now I’m trying to teach that to my players and convince them of it. As for the last 15 minutes of matches – that comes down to energy, game awareness and the atmosphere at the stadium. Of course, we’re demanding changes from our players defensively, and although I wouldn’t say everything has changed in one month, I’m very pleased with the progress they’re making. We wanted more intensity because before you can change tactics, you must first be physically ready. I believe we’re moving in the right direction. We have many players built for big goals, but before tactics, you need physical readiness. Rather than focusing only on tactics, we’ve put more emphasis on the principles of play because things like how you clear the ball, how you support a teammate in a double press or how you defend against a player with unpredictable dribbling – these are the details that are easier to embed in a team’s play. That’s exactly what we’re working on now. We can’t change everything in a month, but we have big dreams. Darijo Srna told me this team was built for big dreams. We’ll work to achieve them, and of course, it won’t be easy.
– I saw you posted a story with Oleksandr Usyk after his fight. Did you watch it? (ua.tribuna.com)
– I have great respect for what Usyk has done. He did an excellent job. He brings hope to our people and makes them happy. Without a doubt, great athletes always set a powerful example, and of course, that also influences our players. Especially when someone brings joy to our people – it definitely inspires me and my players. It’s an example for us.
– Coach, you’re familiar with these fans, this atmosphere and this stadium. Could you share what kind of instructions you’ve given the players on and off the pitch? (Kartal Report)
– Of course, Beşiktaş fans are among the most important in the world and I have great respect for them. We had a great rivalry, and I believe we approached it with respect and love, even if there were emotional moments at times. I believe it was always full of joy, friendship and mutual respect. It’s tough to play at this stadium. And it’s not just difficult for us, I believe it’s difficult for anyone. It’s not only about the performance, but also about the unique atmosphere. And when you play them at the beginning of the season, with new tasks ahead, that makes it even tougher.
– In the Libre Sports documentary, you said that at Eyüpspor you worked as if you were at Barcelona and that you plan to do the same at Shakhtar, to work as though it were Barcelona. Football is changing, but do you think we’ll see signs of the Barcelona school at Shakhtar? Also, your team showed very intense, high pressing in the match against Ilves. Do you believe you can repeat that at this stage?
– Our goal is to play with a high level of ball control, but Ilves and Beşiktaş are two very different teams, both of whom we respect. There will be two different strategies for these matches, but our core tactical approach remains maximum ball control in every game.
– Of course, no one doubts your professionalism or that you’ll do everything to eliminate Beşiktaş, but wouldn’t you say that you would prefer not to face a team from your own country at this stage? (Sabah Spor)
– This is sport, and we should approach it as a positive and enjoyable competition. Honestly, when I look at it, I think we should focus on the good side of it, enjoy the moment and create stories. There’s no need to make it overly dramatic, we’re all emotional people. In the end, one team will win, the other will lose, and we’ll shake hands with great respect. That’s how I see it.
– You achieved great success early in your coaching career, which led you to such an important European team as Shakhtar. Do you see this round as a major milestone in your career? (A Spor)
– Honestly, I don’t think about personal goals because the team’s objectives are more important. Tomorrow’s match is important as it carries its own story. But I don’t think it will have any special impact on my career – we have a long-term dream and our own style of play. Maybe I’ve mentioned this before, but Paris Saint-Germain waited nine years and Manchester City waited eight years to win the Champions League. And they did it with the best players and coaches in the world. Of course, this match will be important for our players because they want to compete at the highest level globally and it will contribute a lot to my own development as a coach. But if the result is negative, I don’t believe it will have a major effect. Naturally, I’ll be sad because it would mean we lost.
– Shakhtar CEO Serhii Palkin gave an interview earlier today and we asked him why the club chose you as head coach. He said it’s because your philosophy aligns with theirs. Your philosophy includes an attacking, technical, bold style of football, with high ball control. Will Shakhtar play more boldly tomorrow, or will it be a game focused on control? (Fanatik)
– We’ll try to play as boldly as possible, as much as this stadium allows when you're playing against Beşiktaş. It’s important to act correctly in key moments here, but sometimes good defending is also a form of bravery. It’s a good strategy when combined with strong attacking play. The most important thing is making the right decisions at the right moments. I’d like to thank Mr Palkin for his kind words. I always feel his trust and support. We’ll try to play as much as possible in Shakhtar’s style, but what Beşiktaş do is just as important. We have to respect the opponents when you play against them, otherwise we’ll be in trouble.
– Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s Beşiktaş play a style of football based on quick attacks and transitions. They also have a new squad. On the other hand, you joined Shakhtar recently and we know your style well: ball possession and high pressing in the opponents’ half. Would you say that tomorrow we’ll see a clash of two different football philosophies? (BeInSports)
– Thank you for that great question. But last season, under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Beşiktaş scored over 60 percent of their goals from transitions. That was during a period when they had a lot of success, so I believe it depends more on the players’ profiles. Big teams like Shakhtar and Beşiktaş can play in a way that the match situation, scoreline or atmosphere demands. We’ll be ready to play in both styles: we can dominate with ball control or we can play more direct football. Of course, I don’t want to give up ball control because I’ve seen very few teams win while defending most of the time. In fact, I’ve been in one of those teams – it was Atlético. You could also mention Greece’s win at Euro 2004. But apart from those two, I think the vast majority of teams that have won the Euros or the Champions League dominated with possession and passing. So we want to control the ball, dominate the game and stay true to our philosophy. But when two big teams meet, it’s sure to be an interesting game. Again, I believe the key to success tomorrow will be playing the right way at the right moments.
– Last season, Eyüpspor were the third-highest scoring team in the Turkish Süper Lig and also one of the sides with the highest ball possession. Perhaps that success led to your move to Shakhtar this year. On the other hand, last season Shakhtar were rather inefficient in attack and were among the teams with the fewest entries into the penalty area. Do you think Shakhtar’s attacking play requires changes? Also, in the UPL, Shakhtar conceded 11 goals in the final 15 minutes and were among the top two in that statistic. We heard that Shakhtar had three training sessions a day as part of their physical preparation. Are you satisfied with the team’s fitness? (Newspaper Karar)
– First of all, thank you very much for those questions, I genuinely appreciate them. I think it shows we’re making progress in how we approach and understand the game, so thank you. I have respect for every approach and don’t believe last year’s plan was bad – it also had its own legacy, ball control. But personally, I believe our attacking players need to be closer to the box and always operate between the lines, rather than receiving the ball far from the defensive block. In my view, it’s more valuable to make a few passes inside the block than twenty outside it. That’s what will make us more effective. They need to enter the half-spaces more frequently. This is something I learned from Rijkaard. He told me: if you receive the ball from the centre-backs in the middle of the pitch and dribble past five players, it changes nothing. Now I’m trying to teach that to my players and convince them of it. As for the last 15 minutes of matches – that comes down to energy, game awareness and the atmosphere at the stadium. Of course, we’re demanding changes from our players defensively, and although I wouldn’t say everything has changed in one month, I’m very pleased with the progress they’re making. We wanted more intensity because before you can change tactics, you must first be physically ready. I believe we’re moving in the right direction. We have many players built for big goals, but before tactics, you need physical readiness. Rather than focusing only on tactics, we’ve put more emphasis on the principles of play because things like how you clear the ball, how you support a teammate in a double press or how you defend against a player with unpredictable dribbling – these are the details that are easier to embed in a team’s play. That’s exactly what we’re working on now. We can’t change everything in a month, but we have big dreams. Darijo Srna told me this team was built for big dreams. We’ll work to achieve them, and of course, it won’t be easy.
– I saw you posted a story with Oleksandr Usyk after his fight. Did you watch it? (ua.tribuna.com)
– I have great respect for what Usyk has done. He did an excellent job. He brings hope to our people and makes them happy. Without a doubt, great athletes always set a powerful example, and of course, that also influences our players. Especially when someone brings joy to our people – it definitely inspires me and my players. It’s an example for us.
– Coach, you’re familiar with these fans, this atmosphere and this stadium. Could you share what kind of instructions you’ve given the players on and off the pitch? (Kartal Report)
– Of course, Beşiktaş fans are among the most important in the world and I have great respect for them. We had a great rivalry, and I believe we approached it with respect and love, even if there were emotional moments at times. I believe it was always full of joy, friendship and mutual respect. It’s tough to play at this stadium. And it’s not just difficult for us, I believe it’s difficult for anyone. It’s not only about the performance, but also about the unique atmosphere. And when you play them at the beginning of the season, with new tasks ahead, that makes it even tougher.
– In the Libre Sports documentary, you said that at Eyüpspor you worked as if you were at Barcelona and that you plan to do the same at Shakhtar, to work as though it were Barcelona. Football is changing, but do you think we’ll see signs of the Barcelona school at Shakhtar? Also, your team showed very intense, high pressing in the match against Ilves. Do you believe you can repeat that at this stage?
– Our goal is to play with a high level of ball control, but Ilves and Beşiktaş are two very different teams, both of whom we respect. There will be two different strategies for these matches, but our core tactical approach remains maximum ball control in every game.
– Of course, no one doubts your professionalism or that you’ll do everything to eliminate Beşiktaş, but wouldn’t you say that you would prefer not to face a team from your own country at this stage? (Sabah Spor)
– This is sport, and we should approach it as a positive and enjoyable competition. Honestly, when I look at it, I think we should focus on the good side of it, enjoy the moment and create stories. There’s no need to make it overly dramatic, we’re all emotional people. In the end, one team will win, the other will lose, and we’ll shake hands with great respect. That’s how I see it.
– You achieved great success early in your coaching career, which led you to such an important European team as Shakhtar. Do you see this round as a major milestone in your career? (A Spor)
– Honestly, I don’t think about personal goals because the team’s objectives are more important. Tomorrow’s match is important as it carries its own story. But I don’t think it will have any special impact on my career – we have a long-term dream and our own style of play. Maybe I’ve mentioned this before, but Paris Saint-Germain waited nine years and Manchester City waited eight years to win the Champions League. And they did it with the best players and coaches in the world. Of course, this match will be important for our players because they want to compete at the highest level globally and it will contribute a lot to my own development as a coach. But if the result is negative, I don’t believe it will have a major effect. Naturally, I’ll be sad because it would mean we lost.
– Shakhtar CEO Serhii Palkin gave an interview earlier today and we asked him why the club chose you as head coach. He said it’s because your philosophy aligns with theirs. Your philosophy includes an attacking, technical, bold style of football, with high ball control. Will Shakhtar play more boldly tomorrow, or will it be a game focused on control? (Fanatik)
– We’ll try to play as boldly as possible, as much as this stadium allows when you're playing against Beşiktaş. It’s important to act correctly in key moments here, but sometimes good defending is also a form of bravery. It’s a good strategy when combined with strong attacking play. The most important thing is making the right decisions at the right moments. I’d like to thank Mr Palkin for his kind words. I always feel his trust and support. We’ll try to play as much as possible in Shakhtar’s style, but what Beşiktaş do is just as important. We have to respect the opponents when you play against them, otherwise we’ll be in trouble.