Donetsk “Shakhtar” completed the UEFA Conference League group stage with a 0:0 draw against Croatian “Rijeka” in the sixth round of the competition. This result allowed Arda Turan’s team to advance to the round of 16 of the tournament, becoming one of the eight clubs to reach this stage directly.
At the post-match press conference, “Shakhtar” head coach Arda Turan expressed pride in his players, emphasizing the difficulty of the tournament in which his team participated. According to him, every match is a challenge, regardless of the level of the opponent, and the entire European campaign was a serious test for the young team.
“Every game is tough, even if you play against an opponent’s youth team. You need to approach football and opponents with full respect. We went through a hard path with long travels and should be proud of that,” — noted Turan.
He also stressed the importance of the winter period for the team’s preparation and recovery after arduous journeys, sometimes lasting 15-16 hours. This will provide an opportunity for better preparation for the upcoming European matches.
Despite the difficulty, bookmakers considered “Shakhtar” the favorite in the competition with “Rijeka” even before the match, with the lowest odds for the Ukrainian team’s victory. Today “Shakhtar” has earned 13 points in the group stage, allowing them to become one of the leaders and secure a ticket to the round of 16.
Now “Shakhtar” is eagerly awaiting their next opponent in the Conference League, planning to continue maintaining a high level of play and showcasing their capabilities on the European stage.
