“It Is Impossible”: Shakhtar Coach Arda Turan Delivers Strong Verdict on PSV After 1-1 Draw

PSV Eindhoven were held to a 1-1 draw by Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday evening, giving Peter Bosz’s side a sluggish start to their UEFA Champions League campaign.

While the result will have left PSV frustrated after playing at home, Shakhtar coach Arda Turan was delighted with the point at the Philips Stadium. The former Turkey international revealed that he would have accepted the result before kick-off.

“If you had asked me before the match, I would have been happy with one point as well,” Turan said at his post-match press conference, as quoted by PSV Inside.

The Shakhtar coach was particularly pleased with the way his players followed their tactical instructions against PSV’s high-intensity approach. Turan had warned his squad beforehand that trying to simply copy PSV’s style would not work.

“We hope to be able to chase our dreams in this competition, and this is simply a good start. I told my players in advance that we wouldn’t be successful if we played just like PSV. We had to play our own game,” Turan explained.

Turan also highlighted the difficulty of maintaining a high level against PSV for the entire match, particularly in Eindhoven. He pointed to the results of Atlético Madrid and Bayern Munich at the Philips Stadion last season, noting that even those European heavyweights did not dominate proceedings.

“It is impossible to play well for ninety minutes against PSV, in this stadium. My players held their ground strongly and with confidence tonight,” Turan said.

“Atlético Madrid and Bayern Munich won here last season, but they did not dominate. My players showed themselves to be combative. I told them they were allowed to lose their one-on-one duels.”

The Ukrainian side's defensive resilience was complemented by a deliberate approach in possession. Turan explained that Shakhtar were instructed to avoid remaining in the same attacking line, instead using diagonal positioning to create better passing angles and escape PSV’s pressure.

“I told the guys that they shouldn’t stay in the same line as we were in the attack. That’s why we took up diagonal positions,” he said.

The coach also stressed the importance of body positioning when attempting to play through a team that presses aggressively.

“It is also important to adopt the right body position when you play against a team that puts such high pressure,” Turan added.

For Turan, the performance represented more than simply securing a point away from home. The Shakhtar boss said the match also provided a valuable tactical learning experience for himself.

“I’m very proud of my players and I’ve learned a lot tactically myself,” he concluded.

The 1-1 draw leaves PSV with work to do in the early stages of the Champions League league phase, while Shakhtar return to Ukraine with a result that Turan had already considered a positive outcome before the first whistle.