Turan on the clash with Inter: Calhanoglu is like a brother

Arda Turan, coach of Shakhtar Donetsk, spoke about the main phase draw of the Champions League on the official channels of the Ukrainian club. Among the scheduled matches, the one against Inter at San Siro takes on a special meaning due to the personal ties the Turkish coach has with some of the protagonists.

“First of all, we are incredibly happy. For a team representing a country at war, direct access to the Champions League means much more than just football. It symbolizes hope and gives people a reason to smile,” said Turan. “We want to play like Shakhtar. We are talking about some of the most important clubs in world football: teams that have won this tournament, reached the final, and become legendary in their countries.”

The coach focused on the matches that excite him the most. “There are very exciting games for me. During my playing career, I faced Real Madrid many times as an opponent, and of course I had the same rivalry with Fenerbahçe. These will be matches that already have their own history.”

The match against the Nerazzurri has a special value. “Inter has Hakan Calhanoglu, who is not only a former teammate of mine, but almost a brother. He is the captain of our national team, and now we will have to play against each other,” explained Turan. The match with Madrid also brings special memories: “Real Madrid has Arda Guler, one of the brightest talents of our country, a man who represents the hope and future of Turkish football.”

There is also a mention of Leipzig: “Coach Martin Demichelis was a teammate of mine. He was an exceptional professional, had a great career, and it was a fantastic experience to play with him. This match will also be very special.”

Regarding Shakhtar’s objectives in the tournament, the coach was confident but realistic. “I don’t remember any easy matches in my life. Football is decided on the pitch and we are fully aware of the level of every opponent. These are historic clubs with a strong football culture,” he said. “When we at Shakhtar believed in ourselves, we always showed what we were capable of. Our goal is to remain true to ourselves, represent Shakhtar football, and fight for our future and our dreams.”