Shakhtar Donetsk head coach Arda Turan has openly assessed the strength of their upcoming opponent, Inter Milan, ahead of the Champions League league phase matchday three. The Miners' manager made no secret that his coaching staff views the Italian club as one of the strongest in Europe and warned of a key tactical risk awaiting his team in Milan. This was reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing the official website of the Ukrainian champions.
“If We Try to Surprise Them, They Will Surprise Us”
The central point of Turan’s statement was a warning that attempting to play against Inter with surprises could backfire against the Donetsk side itself. According to the coach, the Nerazzurri possess such a high level that any departure from the usual model of play in their favor could be severely punished. “In fact, if we try to surprise Inter, they will surprise us in a very unpleasant way. Of course, we will traditionally take into account the strengths and weaknesses of our future opponent,” the Shakhtar manager emphasized.
Switching Focus from the Ukrainian Championship
Turan also explained why a detailed analysis of Milan has not yet been completed: until the final whistle of the previous match, the coaching staff's entire attention was focused on the clash against Kolos in the Ukrainian championship. Only after its conclusion would the team fully switch their focus to preparing for the European fixture. It is then that the coaching staff will study the opponent in detail, determining how to exploit their vulnerabilities and neutralize their strengths.
Shakhtar's Philosophy
At the same time, the manager stressed that while recognizing the scale of the opponent, the team has no intention of abandoning its own playing model. “After all, Inter is one of the strongest teams in European football, an opponent of incredible level and scale, and we realize this. Nevertheless, as I have already emphasized, we want to stick to our philosophy, not back down, and not stop being Shakhtar,” Turan stated. Thus, the Donetsk side intends to maintain its style even against a club of this caliber.
Match Details and Opponent's Squad Losses
The Champions League league phase matchday three fixture between Inter and Shakhtar will take place on Wednesday, October 21, in Milan. Kick-off is at 22:00 Kyiv time. It was separately noted that ahead of this battle, the Milan side was left without one of their players — a world champion, which could affect the balance of power and the hosts' attacking actions.
Context: Shakhtar's Champions League Schedule
It is worth recalling that in the general stage of the Champions League, the Miners are set to face a series of top European clubs, including Real Madrid, Inter, Sporting, PSV, Fenerbahce, Leipzig, AEK, and Slovan. Turan previously noted that each of these opponents is a historic club with a strong football culture and viewed participation in the tournament as an opportunity to make a statement. The match against Inter will be one of the key fixtures in this series.
