Shakhtar Donetsk head coach Arda Turan reflected on his team’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Kharkiv in the Ukrainian Premier League.
“Playing at 3 p.m. under the scorching sun in a challenging away stadium is far from easy. It’s a completely different experience compared to playing at 9 p.m. I want to congratulate the lads because the contest was truly tough. Mladen Bartulovic is a highly skilled coach who knows how to organize his teams, especially defensively. Even when the game doesn’t go according to your plan, the key is to turn it around, endure, and protect the result,” the Shakhtar press service quoted the manager.
“Regarding the scuffle at the end of the match—that’s football. The beauty of football lies in its emotions and adrenaline. Anything can happen, but some matters should stay in the dressing room.”
The Ukrainian Premier League cannot be compared to the Champions League; they are completely different competitions. However, I am confident that by the start of the main phase, our players will be fully prepared both physically and mentally. It’s important to understand the circumstances we are in—war and constant relocations. At the same time, I am very satisfied with the club’s summer transfer policy. For example, Karavaev will gradually take on a very important role; we count on his experience. Mendoza has also already made a strong impression. Ryan Roberto and Bruninho have brilliant futures ahead; they possess incredible attacking potential.”
“Today was tough, and while I am not happy with our level of play, I am extremely pleased with the character the players showed. Some of the newcomers experienced a bomb falling at night and had to take shelter for the first time in their lives. These are the realities Ukrainians face every day. As for the venue of our home matches in the Champions League, we do not yet have 100% confirmed information; the club will make an official announcement later.”
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