We will not back down
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Shakhtar head coach Arda Turan’s press conference ahead of the UEFA Champions League match against Inter
– Good evening, everyone. Although Inter have not picked up any points in their last two matches, their performances deserved to earn them victory in both games. We are facing one of the main contenders to win the Champions League. Inter are excellent at everything on the football pitch: shooting, passing – everything. So tomorrow we will have to be very careful. Alongside the moments when we play well, we also need to manage the moments when we don’t. We are really looking forward to tomorrow’s match. We will not abandon our style of play or back down against Inter. And regardless of the score, our level of performance must be such that we do not lose our confidence.
– You had two difficult games last week, so how are the team looking physically ahead of the important match against Inter? And a question about the injured players as well: do you already know which of your players will miss the match, and how is Eguinaldo's recovery progressing?
– Marlon Santos and Azarov are not with us. With such a congested schedule, involving a lot of travelling and high-intensity matches, I need all my players. I really miss Eguinaldo, and if he were fit to play, he could feature tomorrow as it will be a match that demands a lot of physical battles and a high level of fitness. I really miss him in that respect. But only our medical staff can give you a definitive answer to that question.
– Congratulations, Mister! Welcome! The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) will soon celebrate its 100th anniversary. It is a true theatre of dreams for football. You were an outstanding footballer, and now, at the very beginning of your coaching career, you are taking to the stage of this theatre of dreams. If you win tomorrow, what would that mean for your coaching career and for Ukraine? You were also a former captain of the Türkiye national team. The current national team captain, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, plays for Inter. What do you think about this?
– I have spoken about this before. It really is a temple of football, one of the most beautiful places where a footballer can play. For us, it is a special feeling to be here and have the opportunity to win tomorrow. We are not just here to play football. We also carry the hopes of an entire country. We show that people and children do not give up in the face of war, that they continue to resist and stand firm. From a sporting perspective, we are striving to fulfil our dream. I say dream because it is not a goal but a dream for us. I believe it is almost impossible for a team to reach the next round of the Champions League without playing a single match at home. So if a win tomorrow brings us one step closer to our dream, we will do everything we can to achieve it. As for Hakan Çalhanoğlu, I believe his journey from childhood to the Türkiye national team is a real source of inspiration for everyone. To me, he is not just a player but a brother. I really love him. He is like a real brother to me. He has represented our country with distinction, both for the national team and abroad, performing at a very high level. So I would like to thank him for everything he has done for our country and the national team, and express my respect for him.
– You played for top clubs yourself, so you know better than anyone that when a team of this calibre fail to win two matches in a row, it is already a catastrophe for journalists, fans and pundits. Inter have now suffered four consecutive defeats, and we all understand perfectly well that their players will be surging forward and fighting for every ball in this match. In your opinion, which team is more difficult to face: a side like PSG or Barcelona, who just surge forward without paying any attention to their opponents, or Inter, who are on the brink of an abyss, under incredible pressure and needing to deliver a result here and now?
– First of all, we have to give Inter the credit they deserve. In terms of their level of play, they cannot be considered inferior to Barcelona or PSG. They perform at the highest level in every aspect of the game. For example, I know that in their domestic league, Inter are first for shots on goal, passes and possession. As far as I know, they are second for accurate crosses. So, if a team perform so well in all these areas, you cannot rank them below Barcelona or PSG. Besides, they simply play a different kind of football. Inter have also achieved a great deal in recent years. They have reached the Champions League final and won their domestic league. They play a different kind of football while also executing many aspects of the game extremely well. You have to be prepared for everything against such opponents. And if your opponents are ready for you, you have to be more than 100 per cent ready. That is exactly what we will be trying to achieve tomorrow.
– You had two difficult games last week, so how are the team looking physically ahead of the important match against Inter? And a question about the injured players as well: do you already know which of your players will miss the match, and how is Eguinaldo's recovery progressing?
– Marlon Santos and Azarov are not with us. With such a congested schedule, involving a lot of travelling and high-intensity matches, I need all my players. I really miss Eguinaldo, and if he were fit to play, he could feature tomorrow as it will be a match that demands a lot of physical battles and a high level of fitness. I really miss him in that respect. But only our medical staff can give you a definitive answer to that question.
– Congratulations, Mister! Welcome! The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) will soon celebrate its 100th anniversary. It is a true theatre of dreams for football. You were an outstanding footballer, and now, at the very beginning of your coaching career, you are taking to the stage of this theatre of dreams. If you win tomorrow, what would that mean for your coaching career and for Ukraine? You were also a former captain of the Türkiye national team. The current national team captain, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, plays for Inter. What do you think about this?
– I have spoken about this before. It really is a temple of football, one of the most beautiful places where a footballer can play. For us, it is a special feeling to be here and have the opportunity to win tomorrow. We are not just here to play football. We also carry the hopes of an entire country. We show that people and children do not give up in the face of war, that they continue to resist and stand firm. From a sporting perspective, we are striving to fulfil our dream. I say dream because it is not a goal but a dream for us. I believe it is almost impossible for a team to reach the next round of the Champions League without playing a single match at home. So if a win tomorrow brings us one step closer to our dream, we will do everything we can to achieve it. As for Hakan Çalhanoğlu, I believe his journey from childhood to the Türkiye national team is a real source of inspiration for everyone. To me, he is not just a player but a brother. I really love him. He is like a real brother to me. He has represented our country with distinction, both for the national team and abroad, performing at a very high level. So I would like to thank him for everything he has done for our country and the national team, and express my respect for him.
– You played for top clubs yourself, so you know better than anyone that when a team of this calibre fail to win two matches in a row, it is already a catastrophe for journalists, fans and pundits. Inter have now suffered four consecutive defeats, and we all understand perfectly well that their players will be surging forward and fighting for every ball in this match. In your opinion, which team is more difficult to face: a side like PSG or Barcelona, who just surge forward without paying any attention to their opponents, or Inter, who are on the brink of an abyss, under incredible pressure and needing to deliver a result here and now?
– First of all, we have to give Inter the credit they deserve. In terms of their level of play, they cannot be considered inferior to Barcelona or PSG. They perform at the highest level in every aspect of the game. For example, I know that in their domestic league, Inter are first for shots on goal, passes and possession. As far as I know, they are second for accurate crosses. So, if a team perform so well in all these areas, you cannot rank them below Barcelona or PSG. Besides, they simply play a different kind of football. Inter have also achieved a great deal in recent years. They have reached the Champions League final and won their domestic league. They play a different kind of football while also executing many aspects of the game extremely well. You have to be prepared for everything against such opponents. And if your opponents are ready for you, you have to be more than 100 per cent ready. That is exactly what we will be trying to achieve tomorrow.