Turan to Gazzetta: "Inter? I find it disrespectful to talk about their weaknesses"

Two days before the Champions clash between Inter and Shakhtar Donetsk, the Ukrainian coach Turan gave an extensive interview to Gazzetta dello Sport, ranging from the context of the war to the prospects of the match, and touching on the major themes of the European competition.

Speaking about the opponent, Turan expressed unconditional admiration for Chivu: “He did an incredible job last year, coming back to win is difficult. Especially in Serie A, one of the toughest leagues in the world. The energy I see on the pitch at Inter tells me there is a very strong bond between Chivu and his players, and that’s one of the things I appreciate most about Cristian: at this level, he can give a team something extra.” On the subject of weaknesses, his answer is clear: “I find it disrespectful to talk about them, I just hope we can identify their vulnerabilities and take advantage of them.”

About Çalhanoğlu, his former national teammate, the Turkish coach speaks with affection: “Hakan is more than a former teammate to me. He’s a brother, I care about him. On the pitch, he’s exceptional: he controls the tempo, always does the right thing even under pressure, he’s a leader. Playing against him is tough, but I prefer to look at the emotional side of this story: we represented Turkey at the highest level and now we’re facing each other.”

Turan then described the difficulties that Shakhtar faces daily because of the war. Trips for European matches last on average between 14 and 16 hours, by bus and train, with little time to recover and training windows reduced to a minimum. A personal episode sums up the atmosphere: “Seeing Isaque against PSV in his first Champions League match reminded me of a photo I have on my phone: during a bombing we were in the hotel lobby and I covered him with a blanket while he tried to sleep, just as I would have done with my own children.” On the sound of the air raid siren he adds: “You can’t understand it until you experience it. The alarm sounds, and you don’t think about yourself but about others, your family, your boys.”

In closing, on the favorites for the Champions League, Turan names PSG and Bayern as the main contenders, points to Barcelona as a possible surprise, and believes that Inter “can also go far.” However, if he had to choose a winner, his preference goes to Atletico.