Cenk Tosun: 'I came here to score goals'

Cenk Tosun, the goal-scoring forward for the Turkish National Football Team, which will compete in EURO 2024 to be held in Germany between June 14 and July 14, made statements to members of the press in Poland, where the Crescent-Stars are holding their training camp.

''OUR WORK CONTINUES AT FULL SPEED''

Starting his remarks by mentioning that the preparations are going well, Cenk said, “Our work continues at full speed. At first, the coach applied a heavy workload. That was good for us. It prepared us. Now, with the matches approaching, the tempo has dropped a bit. We are working on different things in training. Of course, there were also sad events. Whether it's Ozan or Enes, we would have liked to be here with them and to see them here too. But unfortunately, football is like this; I have experienced it too. I know they are very strong. Hopefully, they will overcome this injury and return even stronger.”

''IT WAS A GOOD PREPARATION MATCH FOR US''

Cenk Tosun also touched upon the match against Italy, which was played in Bologna on Tuesday, June 4, and ended in a goalless draw. The 33-year-old player said, “I think we finished the match without conceding any chances, or by conceding very few. Yes, we couldn't create many chances either, but we played compactly and disciplined. We showed that we can do good things at that level. I think we played a very good match against such a strong opponent. It was a good preparation match for us. Now we have the Poland match ahead. We want to get through that well, and hopefully win, so we can be fully ready for the tournament.”

''I WOULDN'T WANT TO UNDERESTIMATE ANYONE, OF COURSE, BUT...''

Evaluating Group F, where the national team is placed alongside Portugal, Czechia, and Georgia for EURO 2024, Tosun said, “I wouldn't want to underestimate anyone, of course. But Georgia has nothing to lose. They are participating in such a big tournament for the first time. There is no need to even mention Portugal. They are perhaps one of the favorites of the tournament. We played them just 1-2 years ago; it was a match where we played a good second half. Unfortunately, it was a match we didn't win in the end. Czechia is also a good team that doesn't break its line and participates in every tournament. Therefore, it is not an easy group, but we trust our own strength. I hope we get good results from all three matches.”

''WE WANT TO GO STEP BY STEP''

When asked whether the high expectations for the team in the tournament create pressure on them, Cenk replied, “It doesn't create pressure on us. Because these are good things; it means our people trust us, which is why they say such things. But in the last few tournaments, we always said we would play in the quarterfinals or semifinals, but unfortunately, we couldn't reach those stages. That's why we want to go step by step. Our priority is the 3 matches in the group. Hopefully, we want to get through them very well and then continue step by step.”

''I DON'T THINK THIS TEAM WILL HAVE TROUBLE FINDING THE BACK OF THE NET''

Cenk Tosun also emphasized that the national team does not have any problems in terms of scoring. The red-and-white player said, “If you look at these last 3 matches, what you say is true, but if I'm not mistaken, we have scored 20 goals including the qualifiers and preparation matches. And 17 different players scored these. Therefore, it's not just the strikers; everyone can score for us. Everyone shares the goal-scoring burden. I don't think this team will have trouble finding the back of the net.”

''WE WERE SAD FOR OUR BROTHERS AND FRIENDS WHO LEFT THE SQUAD''

Expressing his sadness for his teammates who had to leave the squad following the announcement of the 26-man final EURO 2024 squad last night, Cenk said, “Because everyone has put in the effort here. Everyone has been training here for a week or 10 days. We are working, we are preparing for the tournament. Everyone wants to go there. Because that is the highest point. That's why we were sad for our brothers and friends who left. We sat down with them, had our last chat, drank our tea, and then we saw them off. They are not here for this tournament, but this jersey will be theirs again later.”

''THE TURKISH PEOPLE TRUST THEM...''

Referring to Arda Güler, Semih Kılıçsoy, and Kenan Yıldız as 'great star candidates', Cenk said:
“They are my little brothers. They never leave my side. I try to be a good example for them. Because I have also gone through those paths. All three are truly great talents, very big star candidates. We have caught a good generation. Whether it's me, Mert Günok, or Hakan Çalhanoğlu, as their older brothers, we try to support them. We try to show them the right path. Because as a young person, it is really not easy to manage the psychological pressure sometimes. But they are all on the right track. The Turkish people trust them, and we trust them too.”

''I WILL GIVE EVERYTHING TO SCORE GOALS''

When reminded that he is a player known for his spectacular goals, Cenk Tosun said, “That is my job; I came here to score goals. I hope they are spectacular goals, but more important than that is the success of the team. If you ask me whether I prefer a spectacular goal or getting out of the group, I would of course accept getting out of the group in any case. But if I was brought here to score goals, I will give everything to score them.”

''I KNEW I WOULD BE IN THE PROVISIONAL SQUAD''

Stating that he did not reach high goal numbers because they had a bad season as a team at Beşiktaş, but that he still expected to be in the EURO 2024 squad, Cenk continued:
“Honestly, I was expecting it, because I am the type of person who always trusts himself. Yes, maybe we had a very difficult period at Beşiktaş, but we had it as a team. It wasn't that the team scored 3-5 goals every week and I played badly. We were not successful as a team this season. Yes, I didn't have my best season either, but I still contributed 11 goals and 7 assists to Beşiktaş. These numbers are not bad numbers either. When I came here, and when I wore the national jersey, I have always been successful or scored goals. That's why I hoped and expected to be in the squad when I came. I worked for that.”

''WE HAVE VERY TALENTED YOUNG PEOPLE''

Pointing out that the national team has one of the youngest squads in the tournament, Tosun said, “I think our team has an average of around 25.8. It's a very young squad. We have very talented young people. Among them, there are also experienced players like Mert, myself, and Hakan. Those who will perhaps participate in this tournament for the second or third time. We want them to experience that atmosphere. Because we are here to both explain and teach them that atmosphere since we have seen those tournaments. They all play in very big leagues. I think they will be used to this level.”

''WE ARE COUNTING THE DAYS TO TALK TO THEM''

Stating that the European Championship being held in Germany is an advantage for them in terms of fan support, Cenk Tosun concluded his words by saying, “Since I was born in Germany and most of my family still lives in Germany, I really know the enthusiasm and excitement of those people. We are counting the days to meet them. In most matches, our fans will already be the majority. We are happy about that too. Because they have always been a driving force for us. We are also very excited. I am also extra excited because I was born and raised in Germany. Because all my friends and my whole family will come. I'm already thinking about how I will arrange tickets for all of them. Very beautiful matches await us.”