National Team Manager Montella: A performance beyond amazing
In the post-match press conference, Montella stated that the three-man defensive setup used against Wales was not a defensive formation, and that playing with three at the back can actually be more offensive.
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Following the National Team's 3-1 victory over Iceland with three goals from Kerem Aktürkoğlu, Manager Montella said, "I can say that we delivered a generally satisfying performance."
Montella added, "I just need to add this. Between the 25th and 30th minutes, we slowed down a bit and dropped the tempo, but we need to understand this now. At those exact moments, we actually need to leave our mark on the match because the game was entirely in our hands. You saw Eren for the first time with me today, and I can say he played very well. In fact, I went to Switzerland to watch him. I wanted to follow him in international-level matches, in matches that are a bit more physical. That's why I was very pleased with his performance. Today, our chains on both the left and the right did a very good job overall. It was a match where we played fast, though we slowed down at times. Overall, I can say that we delivered a satisfying performance."
Highlighting the importance of team spirit, Montella said, "Let me provoke a little this time. I don't know if you noticed, but Kerem Aktürkoğlu played as a striker for the last 10 minutes. Using his physical strength and speed, he scored his third goal as a striker. He didn't have a 9 on his back, but he scored like a number 9."
Explaining that the date of September 9 is important not only for İzmir but for all of Turkey, Montella continued:
"We are more than happy to have made everyone happy with such a victory. Our fans started showing their support from the hotel to the stadium and brought it all the way here. That is why they gave us extra strength in a tremendous atmosphere today, and they also played a part in this victory."
Montella responded to a question about Kerem Aktürkoğlu, who scored 3 goals, as follows:
"When a player scores 3 goals, what can you say? You can only congratulate him. He truly delivered a performance beyond amazing. Not just in terms of goals—though the goals were each beautiful in their own right—but in terms of his overall performance, he had everything. I make an effort to talk to all our players through our interpreter, and Kerem is one of them. That's why when I spoke with him, I saw that he was more relaxed, and I told him he could score. Because I had that expectation, though I didn't expect him to score three. I was truly happy when he scored those 3 goals. Because I think he deserves it."