Arda Turan measures football under war in Ukraine
The Shakhtar Donetsk coach describes a harsh life but refuses to compare his situation to that of Ukrainian civilians.
Arda Turan has put a human face on the strange normalcy of football in Ukraine during the war. The former Atletico Madrid and Barcelona midfielder, now coach of Shakhtar Donetsk, describes his life in the country as profoundly difficult, though he draws a clear line: his situation cannot be equated to what Ukrainian civilians endure. His account shifts the focus away from results and places it on the context surrounding every training session, every trip, and every club routine.
Shakhtar Donetsk continues to compete, but it does so within a reality where football has lost some of its everyday weight. The ball rolls, yes, but it does not dominate the atmosphere. Turan does not present his experience as a personal tragedy.
Why this matters
It matters because Shakhtar Donetsk is not just a team trying to continue its season. In European football at war, the club functions as a visible reference point for what it means to compete when the country lives under another priority. Turan, due to his past at Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, brings a recognizable voice, but the value of his words lies in the focus: he does not make his discomfort the center. He places it below the experience of Ukrainian civilians and shows how the conflict changes preparation, travel, routine, and even the emotional importance of the game.
Frequently asked
- What did Arda Turan say about living in Ukraine?
- Turan described his experience in Ukraine as very difficult, but avoided presenting it as a major problem compared to what Ukrainian civilians endure. His central point was to put his own situation in perspective within a country still marked by war.
- Why is Shakhtar Donetsk central to this story?
- Shakhtar Donetsk remains one of the most symbolic clubs in European football during wartime. Turan's presence as coach offers a concrete look at how the conflict affects daily life, travel, preparation, and the perception of football.
- What role does Turan's past at Atletico Madrid and Barcelona play?
Source
- Arda Turan, sobre su vida en Ucrania: "Es una experiencia muy difícil pero, comparado con lo que viven estas personas, no podemos describir nuestra situación como un gran problema"
Mundo Deportivomundodeportivo.comBy Autor RedacciónMay 4, 10:09 AM
