EXCLUSIVE Shakhtar CEO Palkin on Beşiktaş clash, Arda Turan and more...

Beşiktaş is set to host Shakhtar Donetsk at Tüpraş Stadium in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League second qualifying round match. Ahead of this critical encounter, Shakhtar Donetsk CEO Serhii Palkin provided exclusive insights to Fanatik.

"Palkin first commented on their decision to appoint Arda Turan as head coach. "We started following Arda Turan in his first season at Eyüpspor and were very impressed with his work there. Of course, we knew his past as a player, and we were confident that his international experience would play a significant role in his coaching. In Arda, we saw a modern coach with a strong vision and a natural ability to inspire players. His football philosophy aligns with ours: attacking-oriented football, ball possession, a technical and courageous game. When we started looking for a new head coach, his name quickly rose to the top of the list. We believe he is the right person to lead Shakhtar in this new era."

'We are aiming for the championship'

Palkin elaborated on the club's ambitions under their new coach. "Arda brings new energy and perspective. He knows what it takes to compete at the highest levels and has demonstrated true leadership from day one. This season, we are ambitious in all competitions. We aim for the championship in the league. In Europe, we want to reach the UEFA Europa League group stage through intense competition. We are confident that with Arda's leadership, we can build something exciting."

'We respect Beşiktaş greatly'

Speaking about the upcoming critical match against Beşiktaş, Palkin stated, "Beşiktaş is a well-established club with passionate fans and a rich tradition in European football. We have great respect for them. Their squad is of high quality, they also have a top-level coach, and especially at home, they have always been a formidable team. We expect a challenging match, both physically and tactically. These kinds of matches help raise our team's level and test our goals."

The Shakhtar CEO further praised Beşiktaş's squad. "Beşiktaş has many dangerous players, especially in attack and midfield. I don't want to name just one because they are quality in every area. I think everyone will see a very dynamic Shakhtar team in the match in Istanbul, one that has both young talents and an experienced squad. We will do our best for our fans and our country."