Arda Turan on war in Ukraine before Shakhtar's Inter trip
In brief
Shakhtar Donetsk head coach Arda Turan told La Gazzetta dello Sport, ahead of the Champions League game against Inter on 21 October 2026, that the war in Ukraine means 14-16 hour trips to European games and nights when the squad cannot even get home, adding that the world must know about the war.
Shakhtar Donetsk head coach Arda Turan has given a wide-ranging interview to Italian daily La Gazzetta dello Sport ahead of the Ukrainian club's Champions League third-matchday trip to Inter on 21 October 2026. The former Turkey, Galatasaray and Atlético Madrid midfielder explained how the war in Ukraine shapes his team's preparation: journeys to European fixtures by bus and train take 14 to 16 hours on average, and at times the players cannot even return home. The interview was relayed in Turkey by GZT and beIN SPORTS.
Turan repeatedly stressed that he does not want these conditions seen as an excuse, but said the war cannot be treated as something normal. He also spoke about Inter midfielder Hakan Çalhanoğlu, the coaches who shaped him and Shakhtar's style of play.
What did Arda Turan say about the war?
Arda Turan said that because of the war Shakhtar can travel only by road and rail, which leaves very little time for recovery and training. Working with a young squad, he added, means inexperienced players are more exposed to injuries under such a schedule, and he thanked the club for planning around the conflict's impact.
“We travel for hours by bus and train. The players don't get enough time to recover. We barely find time to train. Our trips for European games last 14 to 16 hours on average. Sometimes we can't even go home.”
“I repeat, I don't want this to be an excuse. But at the same time we cannot accept this as a normal situation. There is a war in Ukraine, people die every day and the world needs to know it.”
According to beIN SPORTS, Turan said he draws strength from Ukrainians who spend the night in shelters and still go to work or school the next morning, which makes complaining feel unfair. He also recalled meeting Roman, an 8-year-old boy who had lost his mother in an attack, after Shakhtar's 4-1 defeat to LNZ Cherkasy last season, and described the encounter as one of his life's important lessons.
What form are Shakhtar in before facing Inter?
Shakhtar Donetsk head to Milan on a run of five straight wins in all competitions (ScoreLab data). In the Champions League they drew 1-1 away at PSV and beat AEK 3-1, collecting 4 points from two games, and they top the Ukrainian Premier League with 24 points from 9 matches.
| Metric | 2026/27 |
|---|---|
| Ukrainian Premier League | 1st, 24 points from 9 games |
| League wins / defeats | 8 / 1 |
| League goals for-against | 20-5 |
| Champions League (2 games) | 1 win, 1 draw, 4 points |
| Last 5 competitive games | 5 wins |
| Last 5 results | Kolos 2-1, AEK 3-1, Veres 3-0, LNZ 3-0, Chornomorets 2-0 |
Source: ScoreLab data, as of 20 October 2026
What did Arda Turan say about Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Inter?
Arda Turan described Inter's Turkey captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu as more than a former team-mate, calling him a brother. He praised Çalhanoğlu's control of the tempo, his decision-making under pressure and his leadership, and said facing him would be difficult but that he preferred to focus on the emotional side of two Turks meeting. He also said Inter coach Cristian Chivu has built a strong bond with his players.
Turan also listed his coaching influences. According to GZT and beIN SPORTS, he learned defensive organisation from Diego Simeone, solutions against deep defences from Luis Enrique and man-management from Fatih Terim. Recalling how his Galatasaray coach Frank Rijkaard told him to save his dribbling for the final metres near the box, Turan said he lets young players make mistakes as long as they stay within the system.
“In our first season we won the league and reached the semi-finals of the Conference League. Now we want to show that we can also hold our own in the Champions League.”
When is Inter vs Shakhtar Donetsk?
Inter host Shakhtar Donetsk on 21 October 2026 at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) in Milan (ScoreLab data). After the European fixture, Shakhtar return to Ukrainian Premier League action at home to Zorya on 24 October 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Why did Arda Turan say "sometimes we can't even go home"?
Arda Turan said the war in Ukraine forces Shakhtar to travel to European games by bus and train, with trips averaging 14-16 hours, so the squad sometimes cannot even return home.
Where did Arda Turan make these comments?
Turan spoke to Italian daily La Gazzetta dello Sport ahead of Shakhtar's Champions League game against Inter on 21 October 2026.
How many points do Shakhtar Donetsk have in the Champions League?
Shakhtar have 4 points from two games after a 1-1 draw at PSV and a 3-1 win over AEK (ScoreLab data).
When and where is Inter vs Shakhtar?
The match is on 21 October 2026 at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan.
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This analysis was prepared by the ScoreLab Newsroom using the sources listed and ScoreLab data. Editorial policy