Tedesco: We must keep going

In the 21st week of the Trendyol Süper League, Fenerbahçe defeated their guests Gençlerbirliği 3-1. Fenerbahçe Head Coach Domenico Tedesco answered questions at the press conference held after the match. Regarding the performances of Talisca and Kerem Aktürkoğlu, who scored the goals that brought the victory, Tedesco said, "We are happy to have won today's match. Gençlerbirliği is a team that has only had 1 loss in their last 11 matches. They scored 4 goals against Trabzonspor and 2 against Galatasaray. They are a strong team. They are a team that dribbles from the wings and crosses the ball. It was not going to be an easy match. I am happy with the team's overall performance. Talisca did a good job. I am happy that Kerem scored 2 goals. He has good character and is a good player. Cherif had the opportunity to play for 10 minutes. I am happy that he got minutes, and I liked his energy."

"Kante and Guendouzi performed their duties in a disciplined manner"

Tedesco said the following regarding the performance of the midfield duo Kante and Guendouzi:

"Our main plan was not to play long balls. Every situation can be different within the match. You can find those gaps during the game, and sometimes you cannot. The players are free to find solutions to the situation on the field. It is not a problem to have played those balls. Am I satisfied with the performance of the 2 players in the center? It was not easy for Kante as it was his first match. I am pleased that he overcame this situation. They were patient and defended well. They were under man-to-man marking. In those situations, you must not lose your composure. The opponent was pressing with 1 player. Having 2 center-backs in the back was sufficient. We wanted this as well. Both players performed their duties in a disciplined manner."

"We need to be brave when dribbling in space without the ball"

Speaking about set-pieces, Tedesco said, "In set-pieces, your goal is always to achieve a positive balance. If you have scored 15 goals and conceded 7 at the end of the season, this is good for you. We work on it after training. We did not have the opportunity to work on it during the pre-season. If you have a player who can take quality set-pieces, your chance can be 70 percent. After breaking the pressure of the opposing player, the forward player, the other players come to press. We need to be brave when dribbling in space without the ball. I think it was good in general. Even if not always, we were able to find solutions. At the same time, we tried to get Talisca on the ball in the second half; we were able to do it 2-3 times. Nene and Kerem can make runs without the ball. This kind of mobility is very important."

"I think the 3rd team in this league is also in the championship race"

The 40-year-old coach spoke highly of the burgundy-blue team regarding the Trabzonspor match they will play away next week. Tedesco said, "The number of away matches does not matter; in this league, the matches you play at home are also difficult. Trabzonspor is a very good team, and they have a very good head coach. There is a great atmosphere in their stadium. I think the 3rd team in this league is also in the championship race. They win almost every match they play. We also won after them. The championship race is between 3 teams. They deserve this too. We will play against a strong team. We are happy to play against them."

He repeated the saying 'The most important match is the next one'

When reminded of the motto hanging at Samandıra, 'The most important match is the next one,' Tedesco said, "No victory is easy. Normally, you should celebrate after a win. Our opponent had only one defeat in their last 11 matches. I respect them. They are doing a good job following their managerial change. We are happy to have taken 3 points at home. The saying at Samandıra is correct. In Italy, there is a saying: 'Victories are not everything, but you cannot replace them with anything.'"

"Asensio has all the quality to play in the World Cup"

Regarding a question about Spanish footballer Marco Asensio's rising performance and whether he will play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Tedesco replied, "Asensio is a very high-level player. He has all the quality to play in the World Cup. Fortunately, Spain has good players, and selecting these players is not a decision I have to make."

"We need to continue on our path in a focused manner"

Regarding the 21-match unbeaten streak, Tedesco began by saying "Maşallah" (God protect us) and continued as follows:

"We need to continue in this way. Every match is very difficult. We are aware of this. We need to continue on our path in a focused manner."