Harsh words from Aziz Yıldırım following Fenerbahçe's defeat to Gençlerbirliği

The defeat against Gençlerbirliği, which came after the first official matches that had raised expectations for the season at Fenerbahçe, has caused unease within the yellow-navy club. In a team that set out with the goal of winning the league title and reaching the Champions League, the drop in the level of effort, in particular, has become a subject of criticism.

It was reported that after the match in Ankara went into halftime tied at 1-1, head coach İsmail Kartal issued a stern warning to his players in the locker room. At the end of the match, it was stated that club president Aziz Yıldırım held a meeting with Kartal and Oğuz Çetin.

According to a report in Posta, Yıldırım expressed his dissatisfaction with the team's performance during the meeting, stating, "This won't do. Except for the first half hour, the team is not fighting, not working, not running. You won't win the championship or get a ticket to the Champions League like this."

It was noted that after the match, İsmail Kartal and Oğuz Çetin held a brief evaluation meeting with the players. It was stated that Kartal reminded his players that the management had built the squad with great sacrifices and that the defeat to Gençlerbirliği could be compensated for during the league marathon.

It was learned that Kartal placed his main emphasis on the critical matches to be played against Lyon. The experienced coach reportedly said, "However, we have two Lyon matches ahead of us that have no room for error. The longing for the Champions League must end. I want you to get motivated for the match as soon as possible."

The report also stated that Kartal told Oğuz Çetin he would field a more competitive team against Lyon. It was learned that Kartal used the words, "You will see a team that fights, runs, and wants to advance in the Lyon match. We will gradually form the backbone of this team. Those who do not fight will not be with us."

News Source: 12punto