Alanyaspor Match Evaluation
First of all, I would like to sincerely thank the people of Alanya and the Alanyaspor community for their hospitality. It was very meaningful for me to face my dear brother Fatih Tekke in the first match of the season. I congratulate both the Alanyaspor players and my own team’s players for their devoted struggle in these difficult hot weather conditions.
We knew in advance that Alanyaspor wanted to have the ball. We developed strategies to neutralize their front-field pressure and were successful at times. However, when we reached the middle of the first half, Alanyaspor managed to break the pressure and found opportunities for us; they played really well. We tried to respond to their pressure with our deep understanding of the game. In the second half, we showed a more cautious approach. This process was a new coaching lesson for me. After a long break, we tried to get behind the ball and play blocking defense. As a result, I think we improved ourselves and presented a game that was enjoyable for the audience.
Since the beginning of the season, we have been preparing in hot weather and at a high tempo, like all the other teams. As a coach who played a match in the Super League for the first time in my career and most importantly, exposed one of my players to a long-term injury, I will constantly work to improve and develop every element of football.
I have a humble advice for my referee friends: I think they need to communicate better. Football is an entertainment sport and I believe their approach towards us should be more humane.
I was sent off for leaving my technical area without insulting anyone during the match. Our referees stated that they would apply such situations to everyone and everywhere. I have endless trust in the Turkish Football Federation, its boards and my referee friends who set out with the discourse of ‘justice’.
Getting points in the first match of the season in the Trendyol Super League is a promising development, but we will be a team that does not accept a draw in any area of our lives. Therefore, I congratulate my players who put in a lot of effort.
I am deeply saddened by the loss of Recep Niyaz for a long time. However, I believe that he will recover and return to us as soon as possible. He was one of the most special players who made us live our dream and we will do our best to bring him back in the best possible way.
