I’m satisfied with most aspects of the game
Sunday, April 5, 2026
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Press conference of Shakhtar head coach Arda Turan after the UPL match against Rukh (3-0)
– First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to send my warmest birthday wishes to my mother. She was the one who was not afraid to send me here and, moreover, was convinced it was a great choice. I can assure you that now she is Shakhtar’s biggest fan, so I love her very much and send my heartfelt wishes.
I would also like to express my sincere condolences on Ukraine not qualifying for the main stage of the World Cup. I always say that I love Ukraine very much, so I also feel this disappointment. My heart is here. At the same time, I’m confident in the bright future of the Ukraine national team under the current head coach Serhii Rebrov and in the team’s overall potential. I would also like to congratulate my national team on qualifying for a historic World Cup. I send my warmest congratulations to everyone, from the federation president to the coaches, players and all those involved in this great achievement. They are my friends, my blood, my heart, and I love them dearly and congratulate them.
As for today’s match, I believe we performed well. Rukh are a strong team who create many difficulties for any side in the league. They are also among those who commit the most fouls, which affects the tempo and rhythm of the game. We tried to press high and they tried to do the same. Overall, I’m satisfied with most aspects of the game. Of course, we could have used our one-on-one situations in attack better, which were created by our wingers. But in general, I’m very pleased with the balance we managed to create by combining different footballers from our squad. I’m also very happy to see Bondarenko back on the pitch – he added a lot in terms of link-up play and was responsible for the organisation of both attacking and defensive lines. I’m extremely pleased with his performance because he is one of the performers I need the most. When each of them shines on the pitch, it is, of course, also my achievement.
– Shakhtar have a demanding schedule in April: a match against AZ Alkmaar in Poland, then one of the key fixtures in Cherkasy, followed by a game in the Netherlands, and again a match in Lviv against Polissia. Are the team physically and mentally ready for such a schedule, given the European fixtures and domestic matches that could decide the title race? Also, what is known about Marlon Gomes’ injury and his expected return timeline?
– I will start with the question about Marlon Gomes and also Prosper Obah. I always emphasise that all decisions regarding a player’s health fall under the medical staff’s responsibility, so I cannot yet say how long they will be out for. They are extremely important players, so I hope for their swift return. As for the first part of the question, the difficult aspect for me is not so much preparing for the matches, but rather organising the travel that awaits us. People abroad often begin to adapt to the fact that there is a war in Ukraine, and the sense of it as a reality starts to fade. People forget that bombs fall every day here and enemy missiles fly; this feeling simply becomes dulled and erased over time. Our main mission is to remind the world of all the horrors that are happening in Ukraine day by day, unfortunately. Regarding organisational matters, honestly, there is nothing more to add. You rightly pointed out that we now face an away trip to Poland for the UEFA Conference League match, then an immediate return for the game against LNZ, followed by a trip to the Netherlands where we will play AZ Alkmaar in the UEFA Conference League quarter-finals, and afterwards we will host Polissia in Lviv. It is indeed very difficult not so much physically, but mentally. However, if there is even a one per cent chance to fight for the dream of Ukrainian people, we will fight for it and give everything we have. I can assure you that at the moment we are spending more time not on tactical or analytical videos , but on meetings to organise the entire process and make it less exhausting for the players. Honestly, if one day I finish my coaching career, I’m convinced I could become a travel agent and open my own agency.
– Let’s return to European competitions. In the entire second leg against Lech, it was unclear what happened to Shakhtar. Have you analysed what actually went wrong and what needs to be done to prevent it from happening again against AZ Alkmaar?
– As I have said before, it is impossible to play every match perfectly and at the highest level. Sometimes we can deliver a game that is not of the highest standard, and we have to accept that. Yes, I understand the moment when the game did not go according to our plan: the score was 0-2 against us by half-time, and of course we panicked. However, for your understanding, two of our players – Isaque and Meirelles – went to the Brazil U20 national team. We also have many young players, such as Kaua Elias, Alisson, Newertton, Eguinaldo; most of them have not played at this level before, and it is their first experience. I remember my time at Atlético Madrid, when we could play a match far below our best level and still win – and sometimes that is very important for mental growth. And I must emphasise that I’m truly proud of my players: despite such a heavy blow at this level, they managed to respond and fight their way into the quarter-finals. We can also mention Alaa Ghram, who had only one full training session before that match. Of course, I do not want to use this as an excuse for that particular game, but it helps to understand the context. You may also recall the moment in added time when Isaque attempted a rainbow flick, or how Ferreira sometimes lacks clarity in finishing chances in front of goal.
You know, I have great respect for Mr Lucescu; he is one of the greatest coaches in the history of world football. However, by comparison, I do not currently have six Brazil internationals in my squad. I hope that I will have the chance to coach players of Brazil national team level one day in my career, but for now I cannot boast that. That said, I’m not using this as an excuse. I fully understood when I joined this club who I would be coaching and that I would have to work a lot with young players, so I accept that fact and take responsibility for the team’s results. So I’m proud of that performance, because despite those local setbacks, the most important thing is that we reached the next round. And of course, we analyse the moments where our execution was not good enough, but I’m fully proud of the progress and the commitment my footballers show from game to game.
– As a coach, you shape not only tactics but also the team’s mentality. How important is it for you to work not only on results, but also on the long-term identity of the team?
– I’m convinced that this is everything in football. No tactical analysis and no preparation for a specific opponent can outweigh the genuine emotion, the energy you produce when you step onto the pitch as one team. Because football is a game of emotions. There are many sports that can be praised for tactical discipline and structure: tennis, volleyball, basketball, but in my sincere opinion, no other sport has such a sharp shift in emotions as football. You can change everything in your favour very quickly, and just as quickly lose it. Football changes extremely fast, and I believe that is truly its most attractive feature.
– You already mentioned today that your squad mainly consists of young footballers. I have a question about Shakhtar U19 player Mohamadou Kanteh. In the U19 match against Rukh, for example, he scored a brace and now has 23 goals in total. Can we expect his debut in the upcoming matches, given Shakhtar’s demanding schedule?
– Unfortunately, not yet. It all comes down to what you rightly pointed out, the extremely busy schedule and how high the stakes are in every match. Regarding Mohamadou Kanteh, there are still aspects of his game that he could improve, but I will not reveal them to the media. Without a doubt, he is a very talented player, and I see him in our future squad, as well as Viktor Tsukanov and Denys Smetana. Moreover, I have invited them here – they will train and stay with us to feel the atmosphere of top-level competition and the pressure that comes at this stage of the season, when the cost of mistakes is extremely high. That is why I’m counting on all of them, and I can say that the work being done in the U19 team is truly outstanding. We have many young talents whom I’m relying on. However, unfortunately, this is not the best time to integrate them right now, but I have no doubt about their potential and their ability to bring great value to Shakhtar for many years to come.
– Do Rukh have players who have caught your attention in certain aspects of the game and whom you would like to see at Shakhtar?
– First of all, I want to emphasise that I’m completely satisfied with the squad of players I have at my disposal – we have incredible performers. At the same time, among Rukh players, I would highlight Kitela. He brings a lot of dynamism and creates plenty of danger. I’m also aware that this season they have exchanged many players with Karpaty, so it is certainly not easy – to adapt from one playing style to another, and to do it quickly while still delivering results. That is why I have great respect for all the players; they performed at a high level today, but I’m fully satisfied with the squad I currently have.
And finally, I would like to add one more point. I recently learned that Mr Lucescu is unfortunately not in the best of health, and I sincerely wish him a speedy recovery and would be glad to see him back on the touchline again.
I would also like to express my sincere condolences on Ukraine not qualifying for the main stage of the World Cup. I always say that I love Ukraine very much, so I also feel this disappointment. My heart is here. At the same time, I’m confident in the bright future of the Ukraine national team under the current head coach Serhii Rebrov and in the team’s overall potential. I would also like to congratulate my national team on qualifying for a historic World Cup. I send my warmest congratulations to everyone, from the federation president to the coaches, players and all those involved in this great achievement. They are my friends, my blood, my heart, and I love them dearly and congratulate them.
As for today’s match, I believe we performed well. Rukh are a strong team who create many difficulties for any side in the league. They are also among those who commit the most fouls, which affects the tempo and rhythm of the game. We tried to press high and they tried to do the same. Overall, I’m satisfied with most aspects of the game. Of course, we could have used our one-on-one situations in attack better, which were created by our wingers. But in general, I’m very pleased with the balance we managed to create by combining different footballers from our squad. I’m also very happy to see Bondarenko back on the pitch – he added a lot in terms of link-up play and was responsible for the organisation of both attacking and defensive lines. I’m extremely pleased with his performance because he is one of the performers I need the most. When each of them shines on the pitch, it is, of course, also my achievement.
– Shakhtar have a demanding schedule in April: a match against AZ Alkmaar in Poland, then one of the key fixtures in Cherkasy, followed by a game in the Netherlands, and again a match in Lviv against Polissia. Are the team physically and mentally ready for such a schedule, given the European fixtures and domestic matches that could decide the title race? Also, what is known about Marlon Gomes’ injury and his expected return timeline?
– I will start with the question about Marlon Gomes and also Prosper Obah. I always emphasise that all decisions regarding a player’s health fall under the medical staff’s responsibility, so I cannot yet say how long they will be out for. They are extremely important players, so I hope for their swift return. As for the first part of the question, the difficult aspect for me is not so much preparing for the matches, but rather organising the travel that awaits us. People abroad often begin to adapt to the fact that there is a war in Ukraine, and the sense of it as a reality starts to fade. People forget that bombs fall every day here and enemy missiles fly; this feeling simply becomes dulled and erased over time. Our main mission is to remind the world of all the horrors that are happening in Ukraine day by day, unfortunately. Regarding organisational matters, honestly, there is nothing more to add. You rightly pointed out that we now face an away trip to Poland for the UEFA Conference League match, then an immediate return for the game against LNZ, followed by a trip to the Netherlands where we will play AZ Alkmaar in the UEFA Conference League quarter-finals, and afterwards we will host Polissia in Lviv. It is indeed very difficult not so much physically, but mentally. However, if there is even a one per cent chance to fight for the dream of Ukrainian people, we will fight for it and give everything we have. I can assure you that at the moment we are spending more time not on tactical or analytical videos , but on meetings to organise the entire process and make it less exhausting for the players. Honestly, if one day I finish my coaching career, I’m convinced I could become a travel agent and open my own agency.
– Let’s return to European competitions. In the entire second leg against Lech, it was unclear what happened to Shakhtar. Have you analysed what actually went wrong and what needs to be done to prevent it from happening again against AZ Alkmaar?
– As I have said before, it is impossible to play every match perfectly and at the highest level. Sometimes we can deliver a game that is not of the highest standard, and we have to accept that. Yes, I understand the moment when the game did not go according to our plan: the score was 0-2 against us by half-time, and of course we panicked. However, for your understanding, two of our players – Isaque and Meirelles – went to the Brazil U20 national team. We also have many young players, such as Kaua Elias, Alisson, Newertton, Eguinaldo; most of them have not played at this level before, and it is their first experience. I remember my time at Atlético Madrid, when we could play a match far below our best level and still win – and sometimes that is very important for mental growth. And I must emphasise that I’m truly proud of my players: despite such a heavy blow at this level, they managed to respond and fight their way into the quarter-finals. We can also mention Alaa Ghram, who had only one full training session before that match. Of course, I do not want to use this as an excuse for that particular game, but it helps to understand the context. You may also recall the moment in added time when Isaque attempted a rainbow flick, or how Ferreira sometimes lacks clarity in finishing chances in front of goal.
You know, I have great respect for Mr Lucescu; he is one of the greatest coaches in the history of world football. However, by comparison, I do not currently have six Brazil internationals in my squad. I hope that I will have the chance to coach players of Brazil national team level one day in my career, but for now I cannot boast that. That said, I’m not using this as an excuse. I fully understood when I joined this club who I would be coaching and that I would have to work a lot with young players, so I accept that fact and take responsibility for the team’s results. So I’m proud of that performance, because despite those local setbacks, the most important thing is that we reached the next round. And of course, we analyse the moments where our execution was not good enough, but I’m fully proud of the progress and the commitment my footballers show from game to game.
– As a coach, you shape not only tactics but also the team’s mentality. How important is it for you to work not only on results, but also on the long-term identity of the team?
– I’m convinced that this is everything in football. No tactical analysis and no preparation for a specific opponent can outweigh the genuine emotion, the energy you produce when you step onto the pitch as one team. Because football is a game of emotions. There are many sports that can be praised for tactical discipline and structure: tennis, volleyball, basketball, but in my sincere opinion, no other sport has such a sharp shift in emotions as football. You can change everything in your favour very quickly, and just as quickly lose it. Football changes extremely fast, and I believe that is truly its most attractive feature.
– You already mentioned today that your squad mainly consists of young footballers. I have a question about Shakhtar U19 player Mohamadou Kanteh. In the U19 match against Rukh, for example, he scored a brace and now has 23 goals in total. Can we expect his debut in the upcoming matches, given Shakhtar’s demanding schedule?
– Unfortunately, not yet. It all comes down to what you rightly pointed out, the extremely busy schedule and how high the stakes are in every match. Regarding Mohamadou Kanteh, there are still aspects of his game that he could improve, but I will not reveal them to the media. Without a doubt, he is a very talented player, and I see him in our future squad, as well as Viktor Tsukanov and Denys Smetana. Moreover, I have invited them here – they will train and stay with us to feel the atmosphere of top-level competition and the pressure that comes at this stage of the season, when the cost of mistakes is extremely high. That is why I’m counting on all of them, and I can say that the work being done in the U19 team is truly outstanding. We have many young talents whom I’m relying on. However, unfortunately, this is not the best time to integrate them right now, but I have no doubt about their potential and their ability to bring great value to Shakhtar for many years to come.
– Do Rukh have players who have caught your attention in certain aspects of the game and whom you would like to see at Shakhtar?
– First of all, I want to emphasise that I’m completely satisfied with the squad of players I have at my disposal – we have incredible performers. At the same time, among Rukh players, I would highlight Kitela. He brings a lot of dynamism and creates plenty of danger. I’m also aware that this season they have exchanged many players with Karpaty, so it is certainly not easy – to adapt from one playing style to another, and to do it quickly while still delivering results. That is why I have great respect for all the players; they performed at a high level today, but I’m fully satisfied with the squad I currently have.
And finally, I would like to add one more point. I recently learned that Mr Lucescu is unfortunately not in the best of health, and I sincerely wish him a speedy recovery and would be glad to see him back on the touchline again.