Arda Turan: 'A few more young players and I'll be reclassified as a youth team coach'
Shakhtar head coach Arda Turan reflected on the 3-0 victory against LNZ and addressed questions regarding his squad management and youth integration.
Арда Туран, фото ФК Шахтар Донецьк
In the seventh round of the Ukrainian Premier League, Shakhtar Donetsk secured a convincing 3-0 victory over LNZ Cherkasy at the Arena Lviv. Despite the clear result, head coach Arda Turan noted the intense nature of the match and admitted his team struggled to find their rhythm in the first half.
Turan explained that the opponent's defensive setup with five at the back made it difficult for his side to execute their plan. "In the first half, we lacked efficiency in our decision-making. We were too sharp and rushed things," Turan stated.
We have to play on two fronts and represent the country in Europe, which makes our preparation 75% more difficult compared to our main domestic rivals. Arda Turan
Addressing questions about the use of young players, Turan remarked with a hint of humor: "I think I already have the youngest squad in the league. It feels like if I add a few more young players, I'll be reclassified by UEFA as a youth league coach." He emphasized that the club is integrating talents like Viktor Tsukanov gradually to protect their physical development.
The manager highlighted that the win was particularly important given the team's loss to LNZ a year ago. Following this result, Shakhtar will head into the international break before preparing for an away fixture against Veres Rivne.