Shakhtar Donetsk coach Arda Turan has revealed how much he learned from former PSV boss Guus Hiddink, recalling a memorable dressing-room moment from his time with Turkey.

Shakhtar Donetsk are preparing for their opening UEFA Champions League match against PSV, but ahead of the meeting in Eindhoven, Arda Turan took time to reflect on one of the biggest influences on his football career.

The Turkish coach, who has been responsible for Shakhtar since 2025, spoke warmly about former PSV manager Guus Hiddink during his pre-match press conference. Hiddink was Turkey’s national coach during Turan’s playing career and remains a figure the former Barcelona midfielder holds in particularly high regard.

For Turan, Hiddink belongs alongside Johan Cruijff and Frank Rijkaard as an inspiration from the Dutch football tradition.

“I played at Barcelona and there I learned about the Dutch football culture. Hiddink taught me important lessons. We played great matches with Turkey and with Hiddink we reached a good level. He is a wonderful person,” Turan said, as quoted by Voetbal International and relayed by PSV Inside.

One particular memory has remained with Turan from Hiddink’s time in charge of Turkey. It came during an international against Belgium, when the Turkish side went into half-time trailing and tensions began to rise inside the dressing room.

“We played an international against Belgium and we were behind at half-time. We were having an argument among ourselves until Hiddink walked into the dressing room with a cup of coffee,” Turan recalled.

The message from Hiddink was simple and calm despite the circumstances.

“He said: ‘Boys, just keep playing like this. If we carry on like this, we are going to win this match’.”

For Turan, the moment became an important lesson in handling adversity and maintaining composure when the result is not going your way.

“That taught me that we shouldn’t let ourselves get rattled, because the score at the time was against us. I really learned a lot from him,” the current Shakhtar coach continued.

The experience has clearly stayed with Turan as he has moved from an accomplished playing career into management. Now tasked with leading Shakhtar into the Champions League, he will face PSV in a match that also contains another familiar figure from his past.

Turan also spoke with admiration about Ivan Perisic, who remains an important part of the PSV squad despite being 37 years old.

“Ivan is a friend of mine. We spoke to each other recently and made some jokes back and forth. A fantastic career, a fantastic player, what else can I say?” Turan said.

The Shakhtar coach believes Perisic can serve as an inspiration for younger players, both through his longevity and his continued physical level.

“I think he is an inspiration for the younger generation. And by the way, he is also a good beach volleyball player,” Turan added.

Turan was particularly struck by Perisic’s fitness at an age when many players have already stepped away from international football.

“I played 102 internationals and my beard is already white. He has played 158 internationals and still looks young,” Turan said.

The comments provide another layer to Thursday’s Champions League meeting, with Turan facing a PSV side containing a player he knows well and carrying lessons learned from one of the club’s most celebrated former coaches.

For the Shakhtar manager, however, the immediate task is clear: put those lessons into practice on the European stage against PSV