Nihat Kahveci's take on Trossard: Warning about injury risk in Zalgiris match
Speaking after Beşiktaş's 1-0 victory over Eyüpspor, Nihat Kahveci stated that he finds it risky for Trossard to start in the Zalgiris match.
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Beşiktaş began the 2026-2027 Süper Lig season with a victory in front of their home fans. The black-and-white team defeated Eyüpspor 1-0 with a goal scored by Cerny in the first half.
In the match, Eyüpspor's da Costa was sent off in the 68th minute after receiving a second yellow card, leaving his team with 10 men. After the match, former national footballer Nihat Kahveci evaluated Beşiktaş's performance on the Kontraspor broadcast.
Drawing attention to Beşiktaş's defensive stability at the start of the season, Kahveci said, "Beşiktaş said, 'I won't miss the opportunity.' They have scored 6 goals in their 5th official match. They haven't conceded a single goal. We have seen the contribution of coach Vincenzo since the first day he arrived."
Stating that he sees clear touches in the black-and-white team's play compared to last season, Kahveci noted, however, that offensive efficiency needs to increase. Emphasizing that Beşiktaş should find more goals in proportion to the positions they create, Kahveci expressed that Cerny's contribution in recent matches has also boosted the performance of some players within the team.
RISK WARNING FOR TROSSARD
Nihat Kahveci's most notable comment was about Leandro Trossard ahead of the Zalgiris match. Kahveci said that the technical staff might not start Trossard in the starting 11 for the European test.
''I don't think the coach will start Trossard in the 11 for the Zalgiris match. It could be risky in terms of injury. The player had an intense tempo with Arsenal last season and then spent a month at the World Cup. I think the coach will start that match with İlhan.''
Kahveci also touched upon the importance of the Zalgiris matchup in terms of Beşiktaş's Europa League goal. Saying "Every match in Europe is difficult," Kahveci stated that he finds it positive that the head coach sees Europe as a priority this week.
Stating that Beşiktaş should not be content with 1-0 scores, Kahveci expressed that the team is getting into clear positions but needs to convert them into goals at a higher rate. According to Kahveci, the current play of the black-and-whites could be a harbinger of different scores in upcoming matches.