Coach Arda on His Relationship with Player Arda
When asked how coach Arda would get along with player Arda, he responded, "It would be very easy. I was an intelligent player, always open to communication and tactics. My aggressiveness might have been a disadvantage, but if I had to manage it as a coach, I could."
Confidence in His Abilities
"I could have been more careful and calm, but that's not who Arda was. If you take away my aggressiveness, you take away my playing style. Trying to change a player you love means you no longer love them. I never felt much pressure as a player. I was very confident in my abilities."
Battling Barcelona and Real Madrid
"I respect Leicester's Premier League win and Bursaspor's Super Lig victory. But the championships we won with Atletico Madrid were the toughest in sports history. We fought against perhaps the best Barcelona and Real Madrid teams ever. One side had Messi, the other Ronaldo. It was impossible. Seeing Real win 2-0 after a match can crush your dreams. You have to reimagine them every morning."
Changing the Style of Football
"My goal wasn't just to become a coach. I wanted to change the style of football. I wanted to implement a new playing style. I didn't want to be an assistant coach. I wanted to take a team and shape it. There was always pressure on me and my team due to my career. I tried to minimize that pressure by focusing on the field."
The Real Work Begins Now
"We've been promoted to the Super Lig, but the real work starts now. My only happiness is showing people how we've changed the club from the inside with our game. I will try to implement my strategies in the long term. I want to build a team that can compete in European competitions. I want to create a team that can play like Manchester City. I want to show that Turkish coaches can achieve great things when they focus on the game."
Leadership Over Being Second
"The important thing is to be ready when opportunities arise. It may sound cliché, but I'm happy here. I'd rather be the leader of my place than be a second man somewhere in Rome."
