We have incredible dreams
Thursday, May 21, 2026
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Press conference of Shakhtar head coach Arda Turan after the final match of the season against Kolos
– Today, there were events on the pitch that deserve even more attention than our favourite game – the farewell from football of the legend Taras Stepanenko. I had the honour of being his coach for a certain period and I also know him very well, and I can assure you that he is truly a genuine legend. He is incredible both as a player and simply as a person. I sincerely wish him and his family success. For all of us, this is a very emotional moment. I wish him all the best in his new endeavours.
– Mister, after a very difficult season, there are already many media reports suggesting that you could leave Shakhtar, in particular to join Beşiktaş. What do you say about this?
– To see my own name even against the background of ordinary rumours in newspaper headlines alongside such a prestigious club as Beşiktaş is, of course, an honour for me, a real source of pride. At the same time, we have incredible dreams, the achievement of which we have jointly defined with the management, so my future is quite clear.
– How difficult was it to prepare the team for today’s match, given that most of the players were probably already thinking about their holidays? What did you tell them before the game?
– I only emphasised how important it was not to get injured. It is very pleasing and valuable to finish the season without any injuries, that's why I told them to be careful, to take care of themselves and to enjoy the game they love at the same time. I would not say that the sporting aspect was particularly important today. To be honest, I was more focused on such a special moment, which I highlighted – the farewell match of Taras Stepanenko. This was also our final match of the season, so there was no real need to additionally motivate the players.
– Recently, there have been active rumours about Oleksandr Karavaiev potentially moving to Shakhtar. How can you comment on this? And one more question. Can it be said that the Ukraina Stadium is not a lucky venue for you, given that you have not managed to win here either as a player or as a coach?
– I will start with the second question: I’m sitting here now as the Premier League champion, so this is indeed a good place to celebrate this achievement. As for the first question, I’m convinced that Shakhtar has a very well-structured hierarchy. The club is known for the fact that everyone is responsible for their own area of work, that's why I fully trust Darijo Srna on this matter. If such transfers happen, I will only be pleased. Oleksandr Karavaiev is a legend of Ukrainian football and an outstanding professional.
– In your opinion, can football today become a tool of national resilience for a country living in war? Do you feel this while working here?
– Yes, I’m convinced of that. This is what we try to do every day: to use football, first and foremost, as a source of hope, inspiration and support, and simply as comfort in these difficult times for the people of Ukraine. It is very important for us that people feel joy and emotions when they watch our matches. I believe this is far more important than winning titles and trophies. So once again, thank you for this question. I hope we are a source of comfort for the whole country. A terrible war is still ongoing and I will never allow the world to become accustomed to this reality. While I’m here, I will always try to emphasise and communicate how unacceptable it is that people, especially small children, are dying every day in our country. I will be a voice that brings this message to the world about the unacceptable nature of such a reality.
– The season is over. How do you plan to rest and when and where will preparations for the new season begin?
– We will gather for the summer training camp on July 1. I hope everyone will be in optimal condition and fully fit. Normally I give my players less time for rest, but we have had an extremely difficult season and we have earned it. They are genuinely tired, both physically and mentally. That is why this summer I will give them a bit more rest, but it will not affect our readiness – we will always give our maximum effort.
– In the last matches, Yehor Nazaryna has demonstrated versatility by playing as a centre-back. Do you plan to continue using him in this position?
– In fact, we have tried to use him both as a holding midfielder and as a centre-back from the very beginning. He has, in my view, a very important quality for modern football, which not many players possess: he is very good at progressing the ball when turning, with his first touch, and he is always focused on the opponents’ goal, wherever he is on the pitch. This is extremely important for our team as we always try to dominate possession. I’m pleased that his performances in recent matches have also attracted the attention of Ukraine’s new head coach. I’m confident that Yehor Nazaryna will be able to perform well in this role as well in the future.
– Mister, after a very difficult season, there are already many media reports suggesting that you could leave Shakhtar, in particular to join Beşiktaş. What do you say about this?
– To see my own name even against the background of ordinary rumours in newspaper headlines alongside such a prestigious club as Beşiktaş is, of course, an honour for me, a real source of pride. At the same time, we have incredible dreams, the achievement of which we have jointly defined with the management, so my future is quite clear.
– How difficult was it to prepare the team for today’s match, given that most of the players were probably already thinking about their holidays? What did you tell them before the game?
– I only emphasised how important it was not to get injured. It is very pleasing and valuable to finish the season without any injuries, that's why I told them to be careful, to take care of themselves and to enjoy the game they love at the same time. I would not say that the sporting aspect was particularly important today. To be honest, I was more focused on such a special moment, which I highlighted – the farewell match of Taras Stepanenko. This was also our final match of the season, so there was no real need to additionally motivate the players.
– Recently, there have been active rumours about Oleksandr Karavaiev potentially moving to Shakhtar. How can you comment on this? And one more question. Can it be said that the Ukraina Stadium is not a lucky venue for you, given that you have not managed to win here either as a player or as a coach?
– I will start with the second question: I’m sitting here now as the Premier League champion, so this is indeed a good place to celebrate this achievement. As for the first question, I’m convinced that Shakhtar has a very well-structured hierarchy. The club is known for the fact that everyone is responsible for their own area of work, that's why I fully trust Darijo Srna on this matter. If such transfers happen, I will only be pleased. Oleksandr Karavaiev is a legend of Ukrainian football and an outstanding professional.
– In your opinion, can football today become a tool of national resilience for a country living in war? Do you feel this while working here?
– Yes, I’m convinced of that. This is what we try to do every day: to use football, first and foremost, as a source of hope, inspiration and support, and simply as comfort in these difficult times for the people of Ukraine. It is very important for us that people feel joy and emotions when they watch our matches. I believe this is far more important than winning titles and trophies. So once again, thank you for this question. I hope we are a source of comfort for the whole country. A terrible war is still ongoing and I will never allow the world to become accustomed to this reality. While I’m here, I will always try to emphasise and communicate how unacceptable it is that people, especially small children, are dying every day in our country. I will be a voice that brings this message to the world about the unacceptable nature of such a reality.
– The season is over. How do you plan to rest and when and where will preparations for the new season begin?
– We will gather for the summer training camp on July 1. I hope everyone will be in optimal condition and fully fit. Normally I give my players less time for rest, but we have had an extremely difficult season and we have earned it. They are genuinely tired, both physically and mentally. That is why this summer I will give them a bit more rest, but it will not affect our readiness – we will always give our maximum effort.
– In the last matches, Yehor Nazaryna has demonstrated versatility by playing as a centre-back. Do you plan to continue using him in this position?
– In fact, we have tried to use him both as a holding midfielder and as a centre-back from the very beginning. He has, in my view, a very important quality for modern football, which not many players possess: he is very good at progressing the ball when turning, with his first touch, and he is always focused on the opponents’ goal, wherever he is on the pitch. This is extremely important for our team as we always try to dominate possession. I’m pleased that his performances in recent matches have also attracted the attention of Ukraine’s new head coach. I’m confident that Yehor Nazaryna will be able to perform well in this role as well in the future.