29.10.2026 18:25
Following the derby in which Fenerbahçe lost 2-1 to Galatasaray, former head coach Ersun Yanal made harsh statements. Arguing that the yellow-navy team had no game plan, Yanal also targeted Aziz Yıldırım, saying, "According to the president, he is the only one who is right. He will attack everyone who comes forward." The experienced coach also drew attention with a call for the appointment of a trustee regarding Fenerbahçe's future.
As the echoes of the derby in which Galatasaray defeated Fenerbahçe 2-1 continue, the yellow-navy team's former head coach Ersun Yanal evaluated the match on the Smex channel. Saying that Fenerbahçe has had long-running problems, Yanal used striking statements on many issues, from head coach İsmail Kartal to the club's management.
“İSMAİL, IF YOU LOSE THIS MATCH, GO, BROTHER”
Speaking about İsmail Kartal's future, Yanal criticized the club president's attitude toward the head coach. Yanal said, “The president said, ‘As long as İsmail doesn't want to leave, I won't send him away.’ If İsmail leaves, that's his business. So it came to this: ‘İsmail, if you lose this match, go, brother; I accept it too’—that's the point it has reached.”
“FENERBAHÇE HAS NO GAME PLAN”
The experienced coach, who sharply criticized Fenerbahçe's performance on the field, stressed that the problems were not caused solely by the derby defeat.
“This is not the result of a single match or of the play that developed within this match. This process has been going on for a very long time. Including the matches won by a very different margin today, Fenerbahçe has been under fire from everyone, biased or unbiased.”
Arguing that the yellow-navy team does not have a specific understanding of play, Yanal said, “Fenerbahçe does not have a game plan. Fenerbahçe has no Plan A or Plan B.”
“I LET IT GO TO THE MEADOW, AND LEFT THE REST TO GOD”
Also criticizing İsmail Kartal's player choices, Yanal reacted to the team's image on the field with the words, “Fenerbahçe has no organization other than playing the players it substitutes in their positions. I let it go to the meadow, and left the rest to God.”
“AZİZ BEY TOLD ME, ‘THE MANAGEMENT MADE YOU CHAMPIONS’”
Ersun Yanal also touched on the championship period he experienced at Fenerbahçe and recounted a conversation between him and Aziz Yıldırım.
“I never say I made us champions. I say we made us champions. Aziz Bey, however, told me, ‘The management made you champions.’”
Saying that a championship cannot be evaluated as the success only of the head coach or the management, Yanal continued as follows:
“A championship is a very serious organizational effort achieved through the common great sacrifice of the team, the coach, the fans, the community, and the management. This work cannot proceed with only those who come onto the field or only with the management; it requires an all-out success.”
“ACCORDING TO THE PRESIDENT, HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO IS RIGHT”
Continuing his criticism of Aziz Yıldırım, Ersun Yanal used the following statements:
“According to the president, he is the only one who is right. He will come out and attack everyone. He knows all the right answers. Now he will get up and make tough talk to everyone!”
Yanal also stated that he expects an explanation from the club management, saying, “The president will come out, attack a few people again, and say, ‘Don't make me talk.’ Spill it all, speak up now! As long as Fenerbahçe doesn't get harmed.”
“WILL FENERBAHÇE'S SAVIOR BE MERT HAKAN?”
Evaluating the player choices in the derby, Yanal also made harsh criticisms through Mert Hakan Yandaş. “Will Fenerbahçe's savior be Mert Hakan Yandaş? You are giving the player a bauble. You are trying to make him a hero in the derby. Stop this nonsense!”
“YOU RUINED ASENSIO”
The experienced coach, who also reacted to Fenerbahçe's squad construction, compared them with Galatasaray and said the following:
“Galatasaray is signing Leao; you are sending away Fred and Talisca. You cannot use Asensio, whom you have ruined, even though you have him.”
“I DID NOT LIKE GREENWOOD'S MOOD”
Yanal, who also evaluated Mason Greenwood's performance in the derby, expressed that he was not pleased with the English footballer's appearance on the field.
“What was this state of Greenwood? Greenwood is either bewildered right now. The man is saying, ‘Where have I fallen?’ Or the man is really here and has taken on the spirit of the others. I mean, I did not like this mood in a player of this talent. I do not think this Greenwood is in a condition to give a performance here.”
“THEY SHOULD URGENTLY PULL THE EJECTION SEAT”
Arguing that if Fenerbahçe falls further behind in the title race, it will need radical changes, Yanal made a striking analogy.
“When it enters the winter break with a gap of between 8 and 10 points, Fenerbahçe urgently has to activate the emergency—you know, the pilots' ejection seat. They should urgently pull the ejection seat, not only for the coach, but for everyone.”
“A TRUSTEE SHOULD BE APPOINTED TO FENERBAHÇE”
One of Ersun Yanal's most remarkable statements concerned the club's future. The experienced coach proposed a trustee for Fenerbahçe, using the statements, “I think we need to go to a trustee and, after the trustee, entrust Fenerbahçe to truly safe hands.”