03.08.2026 15:47
Fenerbahçe faced Poland's Gornik Zabrze in the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round, and coach İsmail Kartal spoke after the match. Commenting on the health status of his two players, the successful coach said, 'We have no information about the condition of Semedo and Talisca. They are receiving ice treatment inside. Their situation will be clear according to our medical team's report.'
In the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, Fenerbahçe advanced by drawing 1-1 away against Poland's Gornik Zabrze in the second leg, following a 1-0 win in the first leg. Head coach İsmail Kartal said they advanced but need to learn lessons from the match. Speaking at a press conference held after the match at the Zabrze Arena, Kartal stated that they could not reflect the game they wanted in the first half.
''WE WILL LEARN LESSONS''
Kartal, who said they started the second half very well with substitutions, said, "Unfortunately, we could not display the game we wanted in the first half. We started the second half very well with substitutions and found chances. Playing such matches in European competitions is not easy. Our opponent was well prepared and never left the game. It was a good match for both teams; there were chances. We will learn lessons from what we did poorly and what we did well. We are a team that continues to develop. We advanced, and I am happy about that."
''WE FACED PRESSURE AFTER SUBSTITUTIONS''
Emphasizing that they missed very clear chances, Kartal said, "If we had scored the second goal, we might not have given the opponent hope. I congratulate the opponent for never giving up at any moment of the game. We are aware of our shortcomings. Our opponent was very eager and applied the pressure on us that we intended to apply on them. We could not put forward the game we wanted in the first half, but we played with great pressure in the second half. The opponent came at us from time to time. We faced pressure after the substitutions."
"THEY ARE RECEIVING ICE TREATMENT"
Kartal, who stated that both Oosterwolde and Ake can play as left-back and center-back, mentioned that he used Ake as a center-back due to his experience and foot technique. Speaking about the players injured during the match, İsmail Kartal said, "We have no information about the condition of Semedo and Talisca. They are receiving ice treatment inside. Their condition will be clear according to our medical team's report."
''WE ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE THIS YEAR''
Kartal, who said they work well on set pieces, concluded his words as follows:
"We attach great importance to set pieces this year, both in defense and attack. We have to work; this is our job. We are already doing whatever is necessary for the team's development. In the first half, we could not hold onto the ball enough in attack. With İsmail moving into midfield, we became stronger there and could hold the ball more in the second half. Talisca got very tired and reached a point where he could not hold the ball. The opponent came at us and took risks. We also made changes to score the second and third goals with quick players, dribbles, and runs behind the defense. We are a team that passes the ball and wants to keep it. Since we could not hold the ball as we wanted, we could not change the direction of the game and could not make the opponent run."