Arda Turan anticipates PSV‑Shakhtar duel and shares Hiddink lessons

Arda Turan, the Turkish assistant coach of Shakhtar Donetsk, looks forward to the Champions League duel against PSV and emphasizes that the Ukrainian manager expects a tough match, but does not allow fear among his players. He sees it as a crucial test for both clubs.

The manager of the Ukrainian top club has stated that he expects a tough match, but he refuses to tolerate fear among his players. Turan emphasizes that this mental stance is crucial for the duel.

Turan spoke about his long‑standing friendship with Ivan Perišić, a PSV player he recently met. He praised Perišić’s fantastic career, his role as an inspiration for the younger generation and even his talent as a beach volleyball player.

Hiddink inspiration and Dutch football culture

Guus Hiddink had Turan under his wing when he was the national coach of Turkey. The 39‑year‑old Turan calls Hiddink an inspiration, alongside Johan Cruyff and Frank Rijkaard. He recalls how he got to know the Dutch football culture at Barcelona.

‘I played at Barcelona and there got to know the Dutch football culture. Hiddink taught me important lessons. We played great matches with Turkey and, with Hiddink, reached a good level. He is a wonderful person.’

There is one duel that Turan will always remember: an international match against Belgium in which Turkey trailed at half‑time. Hiddink entered the dressing room with a cup of coffee and said: ‘Guys, just keep playing like that. If we continue like this, we will win this match.’

Turan said that he has played 102 internationals and that his beard is now white. He praised Perišić’s fitness at 37 years of age, pointing to the 158 internationals the Croat has played and noting that he still looks young.