Crucial victory
Sunday, May 3, 2026
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Press conference of Shakhtar head coach Arda Turan after the UPL match against Dynamo (2-1)
– Good evening! Without a doubt, this was a fixture of great importance. Dynamo Kyiv are high-calibre opponents and we have enormous respect for them. Our rivalry in the Ukrainian Premier League has truly already gone down in history. We did not start today’s match well – not the way we wanted it to unfold. However, the most important thing is that we managed to find solutions after the break. Honestly, I don’t even know what more to add. It is a crucial victory, also significant in the context of our title race And we continue to follow our path.
– First of all, congratulations on the victory! How are you feeling, considering that only one more win is needed to secure the league title in your first season as Shakhtar head coach?
– I can only comment on the potential title once it is actually achieved, after that final win. For now, I can assure you that I feel better today than I did yesterday. We must maintain the highest level of concentration and seriousness until the very last minute of the final match, so today’s victory is very important, but we continue to move forward.
– I would also like to ask about the refereeing as you reacted very emotionally towards the referee in a few situations, and there was a moment when you confronted the fourth official in the 20th minute… So what are your thoughts on the refereeing?
– I did not like the communication aspects and some moments directly related to refereeing decisions. I saw what was happening from the sidelines, and the thing I dislike most in life is being made to look foolish. I will not claim that I understand the laws of football better than the members of the refereeing committee, but based on my experience, I can certainly say that I understand them at least at the same level.
– What did you say to the team at half-time after you were trailing by a narrow margin in the first half, which allowed Shakhtar to turn the game around and come out as winners in the second half?
– First of all, I did not raise my voice. I spoke to the players as a friend, in a very calm and friendly manner. I simply tried to remind them of our system and how we reached this stage of the season, namely by sticking to our key principles: that in defensive organisation we must move more quickly towards the side where the ball is, and that we should not play passes too early into the final third in the opponents’ half. I also added, with particular emphasis on Mykola Matviienko as our captain, that I cannot always deal directly with what is happening on the pitch, and sometimes they must take responsibility into their own hands. And that is exactly what Matviienko did today as captain, at a very high level, and I’m extremely grateful to him for that.
And one last thing I would like to say. When we lost here in the Ukrainian Cup, the press conference room was full, with people waiting after the match. Now, after a victory, there are only a few people present. And that is unpleasant, especially considering how late a stage of European competition we are representing our country in.
I always show great respect to opponents, but I also want respect to be shown to us. So the thing I dislike most is when people avoid responsibility. This is something to reflect on.
– First of all, congratulations on the victory! How are you feeling, considering that only one more win is needed to secure the league title in your first season as Shakhtar head coach?
– I can only comment on the potential title once it is actually achieved, after that final win. For now, I can assure you that I feel better today than I did yesterday. We must maintain the highest level of concentration and seriousness until the very last minute of the final match, so today’s victory is very important, but we continue to move forward.
– I would also like to ask about the refereeing as you reacted very emotionally towards the referee in a few situations, and there was a moment when you confronted the fourth official in the 20th minute… So what are your thoughts on the refereeing?
– I did not like the communication aspects and some moments directly related to refereeing decisions. I saw what was happening from the sidelines, and the thing I dislike most in life is being made to look foolish. I will not claim that I understand the laws of football better than the members of the refereeing committee, but based on my experience, I can certainly say that I understand them at least at the same level.
– What did you say to the team at half-time after you were trailing by a narrow margin in the first half, which allowed Shakhtar to turn the game around and come out as winners in the second half?
– First of all, I did not raise my voice. I spoke to the players as a friend, in a very calm and friendly manner. I simply tried to remind them of our system and how we reached this stage of the season, namely by sticking to our key principles: that in defensive organisation we must move more quickly towards the side where the ball is, and that we should not play passes too early into the final third in the opponents’ half. I also added, with particular emphasis on Mykola Matviienko as our captain, that I cannot always deal directly with what is happening on the pitch, and sometimes they must take responsibility into their own hands. And that is exactly what Matviienko did today as captain, at a very high level, and I’m extremely grateful to him for that.
And one last thing I would like to say. When we lost here in the Ukrainian Cup, the press conference room was full, with people waiting after the match. Now, after a victory, there are only a few people present. And that is unpleasant, especially considering how late a stage of European competition we are representing our country in.
I always show great respect to opponents, but I also want respect to be shown to us. So the thing I dislike most is when people avoid responsibility. This is something to reflect on.