Fatih Tekke's transfer and criticism outburst: 'Don't let anyone underestimate our intelligence'

Trabzonspor manager Fatih Tekke, in his evaluations ahead of the new season, reacted to both the conditions in the transfer market and the allegations made against him and his staff. Speaking to A Spor, Tekke emphasized that they are aware of the burgundy-blue team's goals but that the club's economic realities must also be read correctly.

Tekke stated that the salary expectations of footballers who want to transfer to Turkey have risen significantly, noting that this is a general problem for Turkish football, not just for Trabzonspor. The experienced coach pointed out that players who earn lower salaries in Europe demand much higher figures when coming to Turkey.

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Expressing that they know Trabzonspor's expectations, Tekke stated that the club should not be evaluated under the same financial conditions as Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe. Tekke said, "We haven't lost our minds to the point of not understanding what the expectation is at Trabzonspor," adding that they are not in a position to pay a transfer fee of 100-150 million euros or an annual salary of 10-15 million euros for a player.

Arguing that the burgundy-blue team gave the feeling of competing with strong rivals by doing the right things last season, Tekke said, "We could have even passed Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe. We gave that feeling. By doing the right things when no one expected it... This happened in 1 year. Maybe it was something that should have happened in 3 years. This must not be interrupted."

Regarding the European goal, Tekke stated that Trabzonspor wants to continue its path in the Europa League, and that the struggle will continue in the event of a Conference League possibility. The manager said they need to achieve successes beyond the community's expectations.

Fatih Tekke also made a striking assessment regarding the team's current value. Stating that when looking at the general picture, Trabzonspor's current value is approaching 150 million euros, Tekke expressed that this is a level never seen before in the club's history.

Explaining that he had concerns due to the team's structure when he took office, Tekke pointed to the abundance of players with similar profiles and the fact that they took over a team that had no away wins. Despite this, he stated that they worked hard and prioritized the club's benefit in decision-making processes.

Reacting harshly to the allegations made against him, Tekke said, "Don't let anyone underestimate our intelligence. Our intelligence is not inferior to anyone's." Stating that he has always chased the highest goal in his playing and coaching career, Tekke emphasized that he has to work for Trabzonspor to be good.

Tekke expressed his discomfort with personal accusations in particular, saying that he is in office for everything that could be in Trabzonspor's favor. The experienced coach added that he expects stronger support from the city and the fans.

News Source: 12punto