For the first time, VfB will play an official Europa League match in Turkey this evening. Ahead of the clash with Fenerbahçe, we spoke with journalist Muhammet Duman about the current situation at last season’s runners-up.
With the Red Stripe: Fenerbahce finished 2nd in the Süper Lig four times in a row, but it’s been a decade since they last won the league. What was missing to win the title in the last years?
Muhammat: Yes, Fenerbahçe last won the Super League championship in 2014 under manager Ersun Yanal. Galatasaray has captured the spotlight by winning the Süper Lig championship for the last three years. Manager Okan Buruk’s flawless game plan has been instrumental in Galatasaray’s success. He has also mastered the skill of using the players he has signed effectively. Fenerbahçe has signed some of the world’s top managers and players in recent years, but has failed to win a championship. This situation has drawn widespread criticism from Fenerbahçe fans. Jorge Jesus and most recently Jose Mourinho were dismissed from the team for failing to win a title. Fenerbahçe starts each season with high stress and pressure to focus on the championship. Unfortunately, Fenerbahçe has lacked team spirit and strong communication between players in recent years. This situation affected Fenerbahçe’s championship win every season.
In recent years, stars such as Michy Batshuayi, Edin Dzeko, Joshua King, Enner Valencia and Youssef En-Nesyri have been transferred to the team, but they have still not achieved success. Fenerbahçe panicked after every loss in the Süper Lig. Galatasaray’s record-breaking finishes each season prevented Fenerbahçe from winning the championship. I think Fenerbahçe has psychological problems. They’re having trouble coping with pressure and stress. Fenerbahçe should ensure friendship and communication within the team in the best possible way, rather than transferring world stars to the team. Another problem at Fenerbahçe is the lack of opportunities given to coaches. Fenerbahçe finished 2024 with 99 points, just three points behind Galatasaray. Fenerbahçe played exceptional football that season and put Galatasaray through a real wringer. That season, Fenerbahçe was led by manager İsmail Kartal. With Fenerbahçe, Kartal became the longest unbeaten streak (21) in a single season. This record was previously held by Daum, who had 20 matches.
Fenerbahçe also became the first team in Süper Lig history to record 10 consecutive away wins in a single season. Fenerbahçe’s management made a mistake by dismissing İsmail Kartal that season. His successor, Jorge Jesus, performed even worse. If Fenerbahçe had given him another season, I don’t think the championship would have been a dream. The İsmail Kartal era was Fenerbahçe’s brightest period in recent years. Unfortunately, Fenerbahçe management’s impatience may have prevented the team from winning the championship the following season.
The club has, as you said, had a number of managers during this time. Currently it is former VfB Stuttgart youth coach Domenico Tedesco on the sideline. What is your impression of him and what does he do better than his predecessor Jose Mourinho?
Jose Mourinho’s tenure at Fenerbahçe has been a disappointment for fans. Instead of leading the team to play excellent football, Mourinho has consistently made headlines for his scandalous statements and clashes with rival teams. Fenerbahçe finished that season in second place with 84 points. Mourinho had constant problems with the players and the club president, making excuses to the fans after every defeat. Fenerbahçe set a new goal for itself by sending Jose Mourinho off the team during training: to end the chaos in the team. Fenerbahçe has brought new hope to its fans by appointing Domenico Tedesco, who previously served as manager of the Belgian national team, Germany’s RB Leipzig, Schalke and Stuttgart (youth team). Domenico Tedesco has 4 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss in 8 matches so far. Fenerbahçe fans are once again experiencing stress as their team falls six points behind Galatasaray.
There was an incredible backlash against Tedesco in the first few weeks. In fact, there was constant speculation in the Turkish media that new president Sadettin Saran would fire Tedesco. Fenerbahçe’s playing style and team spirit have yet to improve. Fenerbahçe’s 2–1 victory over Karagümrük, who were bottom of the league last week, in a stressful game, disappointed fans. Fans and Fenerbahçe management will have to wait until January to experience Tedesco’s presence. Fenerbahçe’s playing system and the fight they have shown in matches have not yet given fans hope for the championship. I believe Tedesco is more successful than Mourinho in terms of stress management and coping with pressure. Tedesco is a truly wonderful person with a great personality. His positive energy will gradually impact the team.
After Sunday‘s 2–1 win against Karagümrük, Fenerbahce moved up to third place — the same spot Stuttgart occupies in the Bundesliga. How do you rate the performance in the current season and what potential do you see for the team?
Fenerbahçe is just recovering from the chaos that plagued the team during Jose Mourinho’s tenure. Tedesco has brought a different spirit to the team, but this needs to be reflected in the scores. Fenerbahçe suffered a major setback on its path to the championship, drawing against Alanyaspor, Kasımpaşa and Samsunspor. Fenerbahçe won the Karagümrük match but struggled for the entire 90 minutes and it was not an enjoyable match. The fact that out-of-form players like Asensio and Talisca played in the Karagümrük match increased the criticism against Tedesco. Fenerbahçe is having difficulty putting pressure on the opposing team. They are also having real problems creating chances. Galatasaray currently leads the Süper Lig with 25 points. Galatasaray’s strong performance will further increase the pressure on Fenerbahçe.
Tedesco faces challenging times. He needs to get to know the team better and elevate the players’ performance as quickly as possible. If Fenerbahçe and Tedesco continue to make mistakes until January, some radical decisions may have to be made. Judging by recent matches, I don’t see a bright future for Fenerbahçe right now. Because every time Fenerbahçe makes mistakes, Galatasaray gains extra strength and motivation. I’ve learned that Tedesco has already compiled some transfer lists. He’ll be looking to build his own new squad. Tedesco finds the team physically inadequate and wants to make some transfers accordingly. He seems extremely determined to reflect his own mentality to the team. Tedesco is constantly working to bring a new spirit to the team. The coming weeks will be very challenging for Tedesco and his team. The fans need to wait patiently. I don’t want to think about what will happen if Fenerbahçe throws in the towel prematurely on their quest for the championship.
In the Champions League qualification, the team beat Feyenoord but lost to Benfica. How big was the disappointment to miss the Champions League again?
Fenerbahçe had its brightest and most magnificent season in the Champions League in 2007–2008. Fenerbahçe advanced to the quarter-finals that season and achieved a significant success. Fenerbahçe has had problems qualifying for or succeeding in the Champions League for nearly 17 years. This is truly a scary time. Fenerbahçe fans experience the same fear and sadness about the Champions League every season. Yes, Fenerbahçe created new excitement for its fans in Europe’s top trophy by beating Feyenoord in the UEFA Champions League Qualifiers match at the beginning of this season. Fenerbahçe unfortunately gave its fans another shock by losing to Benfica in the other match. Unfortunately, Fenerbahçe experienced the effects of this defeat in the Champions League in the Super League matches for a few weeks.
Fenerbahçe had difficulties in recovering. The hope and energy in the team has diminished tremendously. Fenerbahçe has become accustomed to being eliminated from the Champions League, but it still carries a different hope in every season. Fenerbahçe, in fact, has prioritized the Super League cup as a success because they haven’t been able to win the Super League championship for a long time. The Champions League has become a secondary concern for Fenerbahçe. Fenerbahçe’s performance in the Süper Lig has always been different from its performance in European competitions. They tend to stress and panic more in European matches, which leads to their failure. Fenerbahçe’s squad is at Champions League level every season and the players on the team are worth their weight in gold. However, defensive errors and loss of concentration in European matches cost Fenerbahçe dearly every season.
In the Europa League, Fenerbahce lost to Zagreb and beat Nice. Where do you predict the team to be at the end of the league phase?
Fenerbahçe missed out on a place in the quarterfinals of last season’s UEFA Europa League, exiting in the Round of 16. Despite a dominant performance against Glasgow Rangers in both matches, Fenerbahçe couldn’t avoid elimination. Fenerbahçe, which set a new target for itself this season, infuriated its fans by losing 3–1 to Dinamo Zagreb in the first match. Fenerbahçe, who won the Nice match 2–1, gave its fans a little hope. We can say that Fenerbahçe has actually been more successful in the UEFA Europa League. They even reached the Europa League semi-finals in the 12/13 season. The fans want to see the spirit of the 2012/2013 season back on the pitch. I believe that Fenerbahçe is the best team in the group right now in terms of squad quality. I believe Fenerbahçe’s only challenges in the upcoming matches will be Aston Villa and Stuttgart.
If Fenerbahçe wins the tough match against Stuttgart, it will be a great boost to their morale for the remaining matches. The Stuttgart match will be a critical one to determine Fenerbahçe’s course in Europe this season. Other than that, I believe Fenerbahçe is capable of reaching at least the quarter-finals of this season’s UEFA Europa League. Although Fenerbahçe is behind in the Süper Lig title race, its experience and success in the Europa League will carry it to even higher places. Domenico Tedesco has 35 matches of managerial experience in European competitions. He will strive to give his team everything he can in the European competitions. His previous experience in the Bundesliga is crucial for his thorough analysis of Stuttgart. The key to Fenerbahçe’s success in the UEFA Europa League lies in Tedesco’s career in Germany. If Fenerbahçe wins the Stuttgart match, they will become unstoppable in European matches.
Let’s talk about the team: What formation does Tedesco usually Play, what are the strengths and weaknesses?
When Domenico Tedesco came to Fenerbahçe, he tried to implement the 4–2‑3–1 playing system in the first weeks. This tactical system had a bad impact on Fenerbahçe, which had a rich squad of attacking players. After Fenerbahçe’s 3–1 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb, Tedesco realised the danger early and changed his playing system. He redesigned the team to a 4–3‑3 offensive system and achieved 3 wins and 1 draw in the last 4 matches. After the Karagümrük match, Tedesco had said, “We think this system (4–3‑3) is the most suitable for both the team and Fenerbahçe, but it is difficult to play this system. We need to work because there are difficulties.”
Tedesco wants a team that presses and counter-presses after losing possession. He’s also trying to get the team used to playing at a fast pace. He never accepts his team retreating during a match and tries to teach this to his players. Tedesco is a manager who always thinks about attacking. He hates conceding goals. Tedesco plans to go faster and more directly to the opposing field. The fact that he tries to reflect his ambition to his players is a positive light for the team. Fenerbahçe players must manage to increase their shooting rate and chances of creating dangerous chances throughout the match. If Fenerbahçe and Tedesco pay attention to these two key points, we could see a much different team in the future. The players need to revitalize themselves as soon as possible. It’s a positive sign that Tedesco is handling the fan pressure well.
Stuttgart Fans might remember former Freiburg player Caglar Söyüncü and know Ederson from his time at Manchester City. How so you rate Fenerbahce’s transfers this summer?
Yes, defender Çağlar Söyüncü played twice against Stuttgart during his time at Freiburg. Çağlar has extensive experience with German football and its system, and he could be a significant advantage for Fenerbahçe in this match. Unfortunately, Çağlar played only 6 matches and 492 minutes this season, and he showed an inconsistent performance. Tedesco, however, is quite confident in Çağlar’s Bundesliga experience. Fenerbahçe has made extraordinary transfers this season, starting with goalkeeper Ederson, such as Jhon Duran, Edson Alvarez, Marco Asensio, Dorgeles Nene, and Nelson Semedo. We can easily say that Fenerbahçe has created the best squad in its history. Ederson’s transfer, in particular, has instilled additional fear in the opposing team’s forwards.
Besides all this, the new transfers at Fenerbahçe have not yet overcome the adaptation problem. There is a team that lacks communication and performs inconsistently. Jhon Duran, who was transferred with high expectations, played in only two matches due to injury, which has damaged the team’s morale and Tedesco’s plans. Tedesco is looking forward to utilizing Duran. Kerem Aktürkoğlu has added some dynamism to Fenerbahçe’s attacking line, but there are still uncertainties regarding the striker position. After a superb performance last year, Youssef En-Nesyri’s performance this season has been disappointing. That’s why Fenerbahçe wants to use players like Kerem and Nene effectively from the wing areas and score this way. Marco Asensio scored in the Karagümrük match, but everyone expects him to perform the same way he did during his Real Madrid and PSG periods. Fenerbahçe has a rich treasury at its disposal, but they are not yet fully active. If the new signings start performing at a hundred percent as soon as possible, Fenerbahçe will leap to a whole new level under Tedesco’s leadership.
Youssef En-Nesyri is currently the best goalscorer in the league for the club. Who should we look out for apart from him?
En-Nesyri attracted attention last season by scoring 30 goals in league, cup and European matches. The Moroccan star has scored 5 goals and provided 1 assist in 15 matches so far, and has not displayed the same ambitious football as last year. He has played almost the full 90 minutes in European matches this season but has contributed only 1 goal and 1 assist to his team. The Moroccan footballer has lethal power and shooting, especially with headers. He will be Tedesco’s biggest weapon in this match as well. We expect Ederson to return to goal in this match. He provides extra strength to defenders. Fenerbahçe’s wing duo of Kerem and Nene possesses a storm of pace, and I suspect Stuttgart’s defense will struggle to stop them. Talisca has a very high game intelligence. His left foot, in particular, is intimidating for any opponent. Talisca creates significant dangers, especially with his bullet-like shots from outside the penalty area. Finally, I would like to draw attention to Sebastian Szymanski and Oğuz Aydın. Sebastian Szymanski’s left-footed crosses and classy passes have always been hell for the opposing team. Tedesco attaches particular importance to it. Oğuz Aydın has the ability to easily pass opponents on the wings and enter the penalty area. I hope Tedesco becomes more aware of his value. Oğuz was truly excellent last year. Fenerbahçe is a team made up of players with strong attacking power. Despite having a poor season, they possess a pace that can tire out opposing players. The entire team sees the Stuttgart match as a turning point in their recovery. We will witness the dance of two warriors in hell.
There aren’t many connections between Stuttgart and Fenerbahce, but one is Ömer Faruk Beyaz who was considered a huge Talent in Istanbul before he moved to Stuttgart in 2021 but returned to Turkey to play for Basaksehir last year. In retrospect, would IT have been better for him to continue his career at Fenerbahce?
I’m truly saddened by the trajectory of Ömer Faruk Beyaz’s career. He was one of Fenerbahçe’s best left-footed players. He was truly a very intelligent and experienced actor despite his young age. We believed he was as talented as Arda Güler. Ömer Faruk signed a 4‑year contract with the Stuttgart team after his contract with Fenerbahçe expired in 2021, but it was a real disappointment for him. At the time, the Stuttgart club announced the transfer on its official Twitter account, with Sporting Director Sven Mislintat also making a statement: “Ömer Faruk Beyaz is an extraordinary talent. He was one of the most sought-after players in Europe. He turned professional at 17, captained Fenerbahçe, and played for the Turkish U21 National Team. He is an extraordinary prospect.” Unfortunately, Ömer Faruk played in only 5 matches for VfB Stuttgart and then decided to return to Türkiye.
What kind of career would Ömer Faruk have had if he had continued at Fenerbahçe? Yes, Ömer Faruk himself answered this question in 2023: “When the new management came in (in 2018), sporting director Damien Comolli was appointed. I have endless respect and love for President Ali Koç. There were talks under the previous management that I would be on the senior team, but the new sporting director didn’t want that. I met with him, and his attitude brought me to tears. I thought Fenerbahçe was starting to change. My hopes were fading. I felt I had to leave. I wanted a new experience, a new life.” It saddens us greatly to see such talents disappear from Turkish football in such a short time. We expected Ömer Faruk to be a new Arda Güler at Fenerbahçe. His talents were undeniable. Fenerbahçe missed a big chance. He could have made Fenerbahçe a lot of money. Ömer Faruk is now playing for Başakşehir under Nuri Şahin. We’re confident Nuri will bring him back to prominence. The experience he had at a young age was a positive light for him. He’s only 22 years old and has a long way to go.
About the game. We have never been to the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadyumu with our club. What are we to expect in the stadium?
Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Sports Complex is one of the hottest stadiums in Türkiye with a capacity of 50.530! The stadium is truly hell. Thanks to its fans, Fenerbahçe managed to defeat big teams such as Inter, Manchester United and Chelsea in this stadium. The fans never stop fighting for the team during the 90 minutes and continue to fight for the team until the end. Players turn into monsters after receiving incredible support from the fans. Opposing players’ ears experience hearing problems for a certain period of time after the match. When I interviewed players playing at Fenerbahçe’s stadium, everyone agreed: “I had difficulty hearing my friend next to me during the match.” Once you see the atmosphere in this stadium, you’ll forget the atmosphere in other stadiums. I’m sure of it. I remember the words of former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: “If you are looking for a tough atmosphere, you should go to the stadiums of Fenerbahçe and Dortmund.” The fans’ voices are enough to unbalance the opposing teams that come to Istanbul. The atmosphere in Istanbul will be a unique experience for you.
Stuttgart warned their fans to be cautious in Istanbul, e.g. only walk around in groups, don’t mock other fans and keep out of Kadıköy at the matchday. Do you think that’s exaggerated or valuable advice?
I find these recommendations from the Stuttgart management very valuable and believe that German fans should heed these warnings. Fenerbahçe fans are actually one of the most polite and emotional fan groups in Türkiye, but they reach an even wilder level during European matches. Fenerbahçe fans are quite nervous because they have not been able to achieve success in Europe for many years. I don’t think there will be any problems before the match. If this was a Champions League-level match, the fans might be more nervous, but I don’t think there will be any incidents before or after the match. Fenerbahçe fans set the stadium on fire in 2010 after missing out on the Süper Lig title. There have been no other incidents since then. The atmosphere has been relatively peaceful for 15 years. Nevertheless, all fans should remain calm and watch the match in a friendly manner. There’s also a unique and beautiful friendship between Türkiye and Germany. We are two nations that are in harmony with each other. I believe that the real winner in this match will be friendship.
Finally: What’s your guess for the starting 11 of Fenerbahce and the result?
Ederson, Semedo, Oosterwolde, Škriniar, Brown, İsmail, Talisca, Asensio, Kerem, Nene, Youssef En-Nesyri.
VfB Stuttgart currently sits in 3rd place with 15 points in 7 matches in a tough league like the Bundesliga. It is especially admirable that they have won 4 of their last 4 league matches. Their away defeat to Basel was a surprise for me, but they still have a chance. Fenerbahçe should especially pay attention to Ermedin Demirovic, who is as talented as Edin Dzeko. Bilal El Khannouss is 21 years old, but he’s a true number 10. We’ll be watching him in Europe’s big teams. If Jamie Leweling, who did not play in the last match, plays in this match, it will be a very tough match for Fenerbahçe. Atakan Karazor, who has been invited to the Turkish National Team, is another talented midfielder. His call-up to the national team has boosted his morale even further. I think Fenerbahçe will win this match 2–1 due to the fan support, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Stuttgart pulls off a surprise.
Picture: © Ahmad Mora/Getty Images