Emre Belözoğlu: 'I am not asking for 14 million Euros for myself'
Antalyaspor closed the season without points after losing 2-0 to Trabzonspor at home in the 38th week of the Süper Lig. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Antalyaspor Manager Emre Belözoğlu made important statements regarding the difficulties they faced throughout the season and their future goals.
İHA
Stating that the season was both emotional and educational for him, Belözoğlu said, "It was a really difficult year for all of us. Coming here and having this experience was a perfect feeling for me. I hadn't known Antalya and this atmosphere this closely before. Being in this city and working with this group of players was very valuable."
Emphasizing that they managed to stay in the league with his team, Belözoğlu said, "Whatever brought us to the position that relieved us three weeks ago, there was a very serious effort behind it. I am happy to be a part of this team. Considering the current conditions, 44 points are very valuable. It was very important for us to beat teams close to us and teams with stronger squads in terms of gameplay at home," he expressed.
"I TOOK OVER A TROUBLED TEAM"
Belözoğlu stated that the team he took over was struggling with major defensive problems, saying, "We had a very soft team. We took over a team that had conceded 62 goals. We tried to fix the defensive line as much as we could. We did very good work according to our current strength. We left much higher-quality teams behind in terms of gameplay," he said.
"I HAVE A CONTRACT, I WANT TO STAY"
Expressing that he will continue his duty, the manager said, "I have a contract for one more year. I want to build a more dynamic team that has goals. We want to put forward a style of play that suits Antalya. The city's dynamics need to embrace this team. Everyone needs to be in unity for Antalyaspor to aim higher," he said.
"THE MONEY IS NOT FOR ME"
Belözoğlu also clarified his statement after the Eyüpspor match, which became a topic of discussion, that "14 million Euros are needed." Saying, "I did not ask for this money for myself," Belözoğlu continued his words as follows:
"The conditions have not changed for me. Everyone has aged one year. Antalyaspor's current files, the opening of the transfer window, and the total payments made to players this season bring these figures to light. The club needs this money. I said that Antalyaspor needs this money for its success; it was not money I wanted for myself. I did not come to Anatolian clubs to earn money. In the past, I left every team without taking any compensation. I want to stay here and achieve more with a strong squad."