"Championship message from Fatih Terim to Galatasaray"

10.03.2025 21:20

Fatih Terim, who manages Saudi Arabia's Al Shabab team, made striking statements about the championship race in the Super League. Terim said, "The championship and the 5th star belong to Galatasaray. My desire is for Galatasaray to be the champion. The Galatasaray community must remain strong and build a strong wall around itself." The experienced coach also shared his views on the issue of foreign referees.

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Al Shabab Head Coach Fatih Terim made statements about his days in Saudi Arabia and the championship race in the Super League. Terim argued that change is necessary in football and made different suggestions regarding the rules.

"THERE IS A POWER DIFFERENCE DUE TO THE SYSTEM IN SAUDI ARABIA"

Fatih Terim's statements to TRT Spor are as follows;

"I have been following the Saudi Arabian League for a long time. I had information about the teams. Here, due to the system, there are some power differences among the teams, but we are in a league open to development. I am not the type of coach who says 'give me time, be patient.' We have entered the right path with the victories against Al Raed and Damac.

"WE WILL PLAY AGAINST THE LEAGUE LEADER IN THE CUP SEMI-FINAL"

Al Shabab is one of the oldest clubs in Saudi Arabia. We know that it is not easy to compete with the 4 teams above. All transfers of these teams are under the control of the Ministry of Sports. We have fallen to the league leader in the cup semi-final, and we will go and play there. It’s a single match. We will try, we will strive. Hopefully, we will reach the final after that.

"YOU WILL SEE SAUDI PLAYERS IN EUROPE TOO"

After winning the 2034 World Cup, Saudi Arabia also had a vision for 2030, as you know. I believe that during this 10-year period, Saudi Arabia's investment in football will be much greater. From this season onwards, you will see many Saudi footballers aged 20-21 in Europe. Because they want to prepare for 2030.

"WHILE SUPPORTING FOREIGN REFEREES, LET'S NOT DISMISS OUR OWN REFEREES"

I have been saying for a long time that nationalities should not make a difference in football. A referee is either good or not, it doesn't matter if they are local or foreign. I think these discussions arise because there are other questions in people's minds. As a coach who has won the UEFA championship undefeated with foreign referees and received the biggest penalties in history with Turkish referees, I say, 'while supporting foreign referees, let’s not dismiss our own referees.' Like in many areas in our country, there is only complaint in football. Solutions need to be proposed.

"REFEREE APPOINTMENTS CAN BE MADE BY THE CLUBS UNION"

Referee appointments can be made by a committee formed by the Clubs Union. The TFF fulfills its responsibilities, but this committee can make the appointments. The TFF has so much work to do that it should be busy with those. Turkish football needs to stay away from these futile discussions.

"THE NEW OFFSIDE RULE WILL NOT END THE DISCUSSIONS"

I have been following potential rule changes. Arsene Wenger has been saying for a long time that the offside rule needs to change. Frankly, I am also eagerly waiting. The initial expectation is that this rule will increase the goal expectation. The new rule argues that an attacking player should be offside if their body is completely ahead. Will this end the discussions? No. The question 'Is the body completely separate or not?' will arise.

"THE 8-SECOND RULE SHOULD BE LIKE IN BASKETBALL"

The rule that the goalkeeper must hold the ball for 6 seconds will also change to 8 seconds, and the game will start with a corner. This rule has been both neglected and abused. This rule was applied only to us. Without repeating that decision, our dear coach also ended his career. This issue should be pursued, but perhaps it should be done by counting like in basketball.

"THERE IS A VERY EASY WAY TO PREVENT DISPUTES OVER YELLOW CARD PENALTIES"

I had recommended the 4 yellow card issue. There is something very logical there. When a derby is going to be played today, players on the yellow card limit are counted beforehand. If there are 4 yellow cards, there is a very easy way to prevent these discussions. The player will determine in which match they will serve the penalty within the next 4 matches. This will not put anyone under suspicion.

"THE BOARDS THAT GAVE US THAT PENALTY ARE PROBABLY PROUD OF THEIR GOOD WORK NOW"

Our penalties were announced before the Champions League match. When I went for an interview before the Schalke match, they asked about the penalty, and I said, 'They did well to announce it before this match! If only they had sent a congratulatory message to Schalke.' The boards that gave us this penalty are probably proud of their good work now. The TFF boards do not have to evaluate the referrals sent to them. Because they wonder if it was intentional or not.

"ORANGE CARD AND 5 MINUTE PENALTY"

There are orange situations that fall between yellow and red cards, for example. In such an intervention, I say yellow, you say red. A 5-minute penalty can be given, for example.

"RECOMMENDATIONS TO INCREASE THE TIME THE BALL IS IN PLAY"

By renewing the player substitution system, the time the ball is in play can be further increased. Our intention is to increase the time the ball is in play. During the match, a player who wants to return to the game after injuries should be able to enter from where they are. Why does the player have to go that far? They should enter from there. In this era of high communication among referees, cards should be noted without wasting time. What on earth is it that the referee still stops the game to take notes for yellow and red cards? We need to overcome these things. My whole concern is to play a fluid game. We should stay away from formalism a bit.

"FOOTBALL SHOULD BE OPEN TO CHANGE"

There was a decision to throw the throw-in with the foot in the past. However, it did not fit the style of football. It was tried but not accepted. These things can also be done, and if they do not give you the right things, you can give up. Like everything, football should be dynamic and open to change.

"THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE 5TH STAR ARE GALATASARAY'S RIGHT"

I completed my 50th year at Galatasaray last July. Even during the times I was not physically present, it has been a life dedicated to a single club. Regardless of these, I say that the championship and the 5th star are Galatasaray's right. My desire is for Galatasaray to be the champion. Galatasaray must remain strong as a community and build a strong wall around itself. Galatasaray fans should be united and be a single body around the team for the rest of the season. This is my wish as a Galatasaray fan.

"I GET EMOTIONAL WHEN TALKING ABOUT FLORYA"

Isn't Galatasaray missed? It doesn't matter whether to work or not. 50 years have passed, it's not easy. I get emotional when talking about Florya. It is not just a sports facility for me. It has become a home for me and millions of Galatasaray fans. When you step inside its door, it is a place that embraces you and has its own unique atmosphere. Florya is a spirit and one of the most beautiful elements that define Galatasaray. I believe that this great bond and family environment will continue in Kemerburgaz.

"I TOLD ARDA TURAN 'YOU CAN PASS ME'"

I am very happy to see Arda Turan as a head coach. I am pleased that someone I met at a young age, whom I witnessed throughout their career, and whom I love, is now my colleague.

One day I told him, 'You can surpass me, I believe in that.' Last week, when I watched the Eyüpspor - Gaziantep FK match, I was so happy looking at both benches. Arda and Selçuk İnan are doing well too. I believe they will leave a mark as coaches. They are people who follow current events and are loyal to football.

OSIMHEN'S WORDS

Galatasaray has worked with very great strikers, and Osimhen is one of them. A very important bond has formed between him and Galatasaray. He is one of the best number 9s in Europe. His desire to win suits Galatasaray. Galatasaray also has a mission to have players like Osimhen in their squad. I believe this will continue in the future. Icardi is a quality forward with decreasing numbers. He is a very special forward that I admire watching.

"FOOTBALL IS A POSITION GAME"

Neither the 3-man nor the 4-man formations are new. The numbers are just a situation assessment. But football is not like that; football is a position game. On the field, these numbers change every second. The issue is how the game is played and with what mentality it is presented on the field. It is important how much your prepared team applies the mentality you have set while playing football on the field. These are interviews made by those who describe the match before it starts. There is no need to exaggerate these. Football is an understanding. What your philosophy is matters a lot. When I started coaching, I said, 'The control of the ball should be with me.' I imposed a pressure and a press. I put this forward as a mentality and never gave up. Good defense in football is a great art. Good offense also requires great skill.

"WHEN I STARTED THIS JOB, I SAID 'PASS' AND 'PRESS'"

My playing philosophy between 1999 and 2000 was highly appreciated in Europe. Every coach had a style and understanding. When I started this job, I said 'press and pass.' When I played with a 4-man formation for the first time, they said everything to me. But life is like that, and you have to follow what you believe in. Football is not a theoretical game. I was instrumental in the beginning of analysis coaching in football in Turkey. Thanks to analysis, coaches no longer need to make excuses.

"I HAVE NO INTENTION OF RETIRING MY FOOTBALL MIND"

I am here, I am here, meaning I am in Turkey. Wherever I am, I am always ready to contribute to Turkish football. God willing, I have no intention of retiring my football mind.