Fatih Tekke: We lost 2 very valuable points

In the 20th week of the Trendyol Super Lig, Trabzonspor drew 1-1 away against Antalyaspor. Evaluating the match at the press conference held after the game, Trabzonspor manager Fatih Tekke said, "It is a sad evening. We lost 2 very valuable points. Based on our performance in the first half, this loss was expected, but given our play in the second half, our ability to execute our plans, and the penalty we missed, there was a chance for the score to turn in our favor. However, it didn't happen today; sometimes it goes like that. Regardless of everything, this was a match we needed to win. I congratulate Antalyaspor for taking 1 point, but we lost 2 very valuable points."

Stating that they will face a cup match during the week and then a strong team away on the weekend, Tekke said, "We have to take it one match at a time. We are leaving the pitch with our heads held high, not bowed, but we need to produce higher quality work."

"The game stopped too much"

Responding to journalists' questions regarding referee decisions, Tekke said, "I haven't watched the penalty incidents on the pitch, so I cannot say anything. They were already reviewed by VAR anyway. The time-wasting by teams that sit back, especially during goal kicks, happened a lot in both the first and second halves. The game stopped too much. It doesn't matter if it's us or the opponent. The team that wants to stop the game stops it. The referee makes the watch gesture, but it doesn't really reflect reality. This is not just for this match."

Describing the goal they conceded and the penalty they missed as unfortunate, Tekke said that the 90 minutes should not be defined solely by those moments. Tekke stated, "The statistics, the game, and what was done are clear, but our talented players, in particular, need to step up a bit more. For big teams, these statistics need to be higher. Otherwise, you come from behind away from home, this opportunity comes to you, and if the penalty had been a goal, we might have been a bit more comfortable. There is a feeling in my team that we are not productive enough in the final third, and that if we produce more, it will be better. We are working to improve this. But this is our problem."

Responding to a question about whether transfer rumors are affecting the players, Tekke said, "I don't know if it affects them. Our players are valuable players. Our players have been watched and sought after for quite some time. It's not just about our players; we are now in a system where every match and every moment of every player in the world is tracked, turned into numbers, and leaves no information in the dark. Therefore, the players know this too. I don't think some of the absurd news reports can confuse the players. Because the desire and ambition are at a high level; the problem is just a bit of self-confidence, and that is up to us."