Arda Turan and the Shakhtar miracle

Arda Turan is currently managing Shakhtar Donetsk.

Ahead of their Conference League quarter-final match against AZ Alkmaar, Shakhtar Donetsk have a great opportunity to advance further in the European competition while also competing for the top spot in their domestic league. The Ukrainian team is currently level on points with the league leaders but has a game in hand, giving them a clear advantage in the title race.

These results are all the more remarkable given the unique circumstances Shakhtar faced. The war prevented them from playing at their home stadium, Donbass Arena. Since the beginning of the season, the team has been based in Krakow (Poland), more than 1,500 km from home, to play European cup matches.

Furthermore, all of their away matches in the domestic league are conducted by road. Journeys lasting around eight hours have become commonplace. The team also has to return immediately after matches for security reasons, significantly reducing their rest time.

The travel doesn't stop there. Each time Shakhtar travels to Poland, they have to spend an additional two hours on passport control and border crossing procedures. These seemingly small details add up to immense pressure on the players' physical and mental condition.

Between the 9th and 20th, Shakhtar faced a packed schedule. They played four matches in 11 days, including two Conference League games and two domestic matches, covering a total distance of approximately 4,600 km. Of that, 2,500 km was covered by bus.

Shakhtar Donetsk is progressing deep into European competition.

Specifically, Shakhtar will play the first leg of the quarter-finals against AZ Alkmaar in Krakow, then return to Ukraine to face LNZ Cherkasy, a direct competitor in the league standings. This will be followed by the second leg of the Conference League match, before concluding the series with a clash against Polyssia Zhytomyr.

However, Shakhtar's biggest challenge wasn't just the travel schedule. Their only domestic league defeat came after a particularly stressful experience. Following an away game in Scotland, the team had to travel 17 hours to return. Upon arrival, they were forced to take shelter in a bomb shelter due to an airstrike, before leaving the following morning to be on time for their match.

Such circumstances sometimes make football secondary. However, under the leadership of Arda Turan, Shakhtar has maintained remarkable stability.

The Ukrainian team is not only competing for the domestic title but also aiming for a return to the Champions League. The Conference League is therefore not just a competition, but also a stepping stone for them to assert their position.

In the context of playing away from home, constant travel, and facing off-field risks, Shakhtar's ability to maintain their pace and ambition demonstrates the resilience of a team that is not easily subdued.