Maldera: Sharing football ideas with Arda Turan is what pleases me most

Ukraine national team head coach Andrea Maldera paid a visit to Shakhtar Donetsk’s pre-season camp in Slovenia, where he had the chance to watch the team train and speak with the club’s manager, Arda Turan. The Italian tactician accepted an invitation from the Miners to observe their preparations firsthand. “I’m really happy to be here. I’m grateful to Shakhtar for their hospitality and for giving me this opportunity to see the players and exchange views with the coach,” Maldera said. He praised the club’s professional environment: “I know that Shakhtar has top-level professionals. This is a big club with big standards. Next season they’ll play in the Champions League – that’s a huge challenge and motivation. I watched the session, and for this stage of pre-season, the players look excellent. The energy from the coaching staff, especially Arda Turan and his assistants, is incredible. The potential of this team is enormous, though that doesn’t surprise me.” On his conversation with Turan, Maldera added: “We talked about players, the start of the season, and the difficulties Ukrainian clubs face with relocations and match preparation. We covered many topics. But most importantly, I realized that many of my football ideas align with how Arda Turan sees the game. For Shakhtar, the coming European campaign will be crucial – just like last season, which gave the squad invaluable experience.” “Shakhtar is not just a team, it’s a very important club for all of Ukraine. I wish them nothing but the best!” the national team boss concluded. Shakhtar won the Ukrainian Premier League last season and will compete in the Champions League league phase this year.