Arda Turan Urges Shakhtar Courage Ahead of PSV Champions League Opener
Shakhtar Donetsk will begin their Champions League league-phase campaign away to PSV on Thursday evening, with head coach Arda Turan urging his side to meet the Dutch club with courage after a demanding journey from Ukraine.
Why the PSV trip carries added weight for Shakhtar
| Fixture | Competition | Venue | Key detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSV vs Shakhtar Donetsk | Champions League league phase | PSV Stadion, Eindhoven | Thursday evening |
| Arda Turan | Shakhtar head coach | Age | 39 |
| Ivan Perisic | PSV player | Age | 37 |
Shakhtar’s preparations have again been shaped by the war in Ukraine. The squad travelled by bus from Lviv, crossed into Poland and then flew from Rzeszow to the Netherlands, leaving limited scope for conventional training sessions on the pitch.
Turan said the group have used their time on the road for video work and tactical meetings instead. He stressed that the players’ role in representing Ukraine gives the trip a significance greater than the physical strain involved.
The coach will take a young group into Eindhoven, with six or seven players expected to experience Champions League football for the first time. Turan has told them that he will accept responsibility for the result, while asking them to play with confidence on a major European stage.
Turan wants Shakhtar to play rather than merely resist
PSV arrive with a reputation as an attack-minded, high-scoring side, but Turan has ruled out a passive approach. He believes attempting only to contain the home team would leave Shakhtar vulnerable and has asked his players to retain the ball, attack when possible and enjoy the occasion.
His outlook draws on the Dutch football figures he admires, including Johan Cruyff, Frank Rijkaard and Guus Hiddink. Hiddink remains a particularly important influence on Turan from his Turkey playing career.
Turan recalled a tense half-time during a Turkey match against Belgium, when Hiddink entered the dressing room calmly with a coffee as the side faced a difficult situation. Turkey went on to complete a comeback, and Turan said the episode taught him the importance of composure, control and trust in established principles.
He now wants to give Shakhtar’s younger players the same assurance before they face PSV.
Turan also exchanged warm words with PSV veteran Ivan Perisic, a former friend whom he described as a living legend. Shakhtar travel to the Netherlands in strong domestic form and seeking another significant European result after their dramatic meeting with PSV in 2024.
