Volkan Demirel Very Upset After the Derby

Volkan Demirel: “Losing to Galatasaray has become normal at Fenerbahce, I can’t accept that.”

Former Fenerbahce captain and coach Volkan Demirel made striking statements after the derby at Kadikoy.

Speaking about the Fenerbahce – Galatasaray derby, Volkan Demirel expressed that Fenerbahce’s motivation was not at the required level, saying: “Forget Volkan Demirel. Everyone, including the players, needs to talk about the past. It cannot be explained with videos or social media. It cannot be explained without experiencing it. Telling it without living it is just telling a story. Coming to yesterday’s match, I was truly very upset. Losing to Galatasaray has become normal now. I can’t accept that… Yes, I am here, working as a coach. If I had to intervene against Fenerbahce, I would do everything I can, don’t get me wrong. Fenerbahce lost. Is anyone upset? Apart from the fans, I don’t know if anyone else is upset. I wanted to leave the match early. My daughter said, ‘Dad, I don’t want to leave’… I couldn’t say anything to her.”

“I WILL COME TO FENERBAHCE ANYWAY”

Volkan Demirel claimed that he would one day take on the role of head coach at Fenerbahce, saying: “People keep saying, ‘Volkan should join the team,’ but I don’t have such a thought. I will come to Fenerbahce one day anyway. Hopefully, I will at least try to bring the Fenerbahce in my mind, the Fenerbahce in my heart, and that feeling. It cannot be explained with these images, social media, or old match footage. You can’t explain anything without living it; those who do are just telling stories.”

“YOU CAN CONCEDE LIKE THIS AT ANADOLU TEAMS…”

Speaking on TV100, Volkan Demirel said that the result was unexpected: “We always say that predicting the outcome of derbies is difficult, but sometimes the flow of the game shows where it’s headed. It could have been even more one-sided. Maybe Fenerbahce started well in the first 10 minutes, but after that, Galatasaray got what they wanted.”

Demirel also pointed out that Fenerbahce conceded 2 goals from throw-ins: “There was only one substitution at the beginning of the second half, but I think 2-3 changes could have been made. Fenerbahce conceded two goals from throw-ins today. You can concede like this at Anadolu teams, but conceding this way as Fenerbahce is something that needs to be examined.”

Criticizing Fenerbahce’s approach during set pieces, Demirel added: “Fenerbahce can play man-to-man during set pieces, I can accept that. But Fenerbahce can only play man-to-man up to a point in front of their own fans, at some point, the space should come into play. Mert Muldur marking Yunus Akgun man-to-man was the reason for the second goal.”

Demirel also mentioned that Galatasaray did not face much pressure on the field or from the stands: “Sara’s shot before the goal was Galatasaray’s first chance. After the throw-in that followed, Galatasaray started to control the game. Actually, in the first 10 minutes, it was Fenerbahce. But from 10 minutes to Sara’s shot, there wasn’t really any play from either team. Galatasaray didn’t face much pressure today. Neither physically nor from the fans, because the fans couldn’t get into the match either. When it became 1-0, a sense of fragility naturally began. The Fenerbahce community has long been longing for success. Anxiety immediately starts. The conditions on the field determined today’s result.”