Two Nations, Two Matches, Two Different Outcomes: Fenerbahçe and Karabağ’s Battle on the European Stage

Two Nations, Two Matches, Two Different Outcomes: Fenerbahçe and Karabağ’s Battle on the European Stage

On the European stage, two Turkish teams, Fenerbahçe and Karabağ, faced different outcomes, shedding light on various aspects of Turkish football. Technical Director and Academic Müslüm Gülhan, TV Presenter and Reporter Arifa Latifova, Editor-in-Chief of Protokol Tribünü Magazine Veli Can Şahin, and Sports Declaration Editor-in-Chief Beyza Cihan offer detailed analyses, evaluating the current status and future of these two teams.

Müslüm Gülhan (Technical Director / Academic):

Fenerbahçe:
With the arrival of Mourinho, expectations for the team have naturally skyrocketed. The expectation was for Mourinho’s performance to be decisive, as the team’s biggest problem was its inability to play within a systematic structure, and Mourinho was brought in to discipline this. However, despite having gone through the preseason, there is still no visible result in this regard.

Fenerbahçe’s biggest problem is the defenders not pushing forward during the press, as seen in the last match where the opponent consistently managed to pass the ball into the midfield. Çağlar’s reluctance to hold the line and his tendency to drop back stretches the team and causes the defense line to be drawn back to between the six-yard box and the penalty spot. This naturally leads to the ball deflecting off defenders and resulting in penalties.

Similarly, the team struggles to transition from the defense to the midfield, forcing them to play back passes to the goalkeeper and resort to long balls, making it easier for the opponent to regain possession. Fenerbahçe excels in the attacking third, having players capable of showcasing their skills through continuous attacking actions. However, their deep defensive stance forces them to play across 70 meters, keeping them away from their most effective area.

Both recent transfers have not delivered the expected performance so far. The importance lies not in spending large sums on players but in acquiring players who meet the team’s needs. Fenerbahçe urgently needs a top-tier center-back, left-back, and midfielder. But if these are acquired through Mendes-Mourinho, it could pose significant risks. Mendes is a problematic agent who will go to any lengths to sell his players, often to the detriment of teams. Mourinho’s association with him brings potential risks, which need careful analysis. Following the loss in the Champions League qualifier, Mourinho’s statements indicate that this partnership could either be dangerous or advantageous.

If you recall, at the start of the season, Rafa Silva was asked about, and Mourinho said, “Galatasaray is interested in him, and that amount is too high,” which led Beşiktaş to sign him with a 6 million euro annual salary and a 10 million euro signing bonus. This was a prime example of the Mourinho-Mendes collaboration.

Karabağ:
For 16 years, they have worked with the same coach. Whether out of necessity or not, this is an important criterion for stability. Another key point is the contribution from their low-cost foreign players: French Zoubir and Benzia, Brazilian Juninho and Romao, Portuguese Andrade, Serbian-Montenegrins Janković and Vesović, Colombian Media, and the German-Croatian goalkeeper Buntić.

Looking at the squad, nearly the entire team consists of foreign players, who are known for their individual skills and preference for playing with freedom. These players are not easily disciplined within a systematic structure. Karabağ is a team with a high emotional intensity that likes to play based on this. Such teams can face challenges in managing the process during crucial matches. The line between achieving good and bad results is very thin. While they enjoy playing with enthusiasm, it is not easy to maintain this level of play throughout all matches. Sometimes, it is necessary to stay calm and play a controlled game, which is the reality European competitions are based on.

Arifa Latifova (TV Presenter / Reporter):

Arifa:
“Although ‘Qarabağ’ excited us during regular time against ‘Ludogorets’, they secured a resounding victory in extra time, advancing to the playoffs of the UEFA Champions League for the third time in their history. The individual quality of the players was a key factor influencing the match outcome. Three forced substitutions were made during the game, yet two of the substitutes went on to score decisive goals. ‘Qarabağ’ managed to do what many major clubs couldn’t, scoring four goals in extra time. Their next opponent is Croatia’s ‘Dinamo Zagreb’, a team with ample experience in the UEFA Champions League. The match against this opponent will be quite challenging, but if ‘Qarabağ’ can showcase their game, I believe they will represent our country in the most prestigious club tournament on the continent for the second time in the history of Azerbaijani football.

‘Fenerbahçe’, which hasn’t participated in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League for 16 years, unfortunately, could not continue their journey in this tournament this time either. The team didn’t leave a bad impression in their match against ‘Lille’. However, certain unlucky elements were evident in both the draw and the match. Expectations are very high from the ‘yellow-navy blues’ after the arrival of the world-renowned expert – Jose Mourinho. I think that ‘Fenerbahçe’ has not fully adapted to Jose Mourinho’s philosophy yet, and it will take some time. However, considering that the Portuguese expert reached the final in two of the last three European club seasons, it is reasonable to expect the team to make a historic result in the UEFA Europa League, especially in the newly formatted competition.”

Veli Can Şahin (Editor-in-Chief of Protokol Tribünü Magazine):

Fenerbahçe Started Early in the Europa League
Fenerbahçe began the season with a strong squad and a top-level coach, aiming for success both in Europe and in Turkey. If they had reached the group stage of the Champions League, it would have ended their long absence from the elite competition and added a significant sum to their coffers, but it wasn’t to be. Unluckily, they were eliminated by French side Lille and remained in the Europa League groups. Mourinho and his players did their best against Lille at Kadıköy. There was attacking football, plenty of chances, and a great fight. However, the goal came too late, and due to an unfortunate penalty in extra time, their Champions League dream was postponed to another autumn. Given the squad and coach Fenerbahçe has, I have no doubt they will perform at a high level in the Europa League. However, qualifying for the Champions League and at least finishing third to drop into the Europa League would have been a better scenario for both the club’s finances and the fans who have been longing for this for years. Nonetheless, they shouldn’t be disheartened. I am fully confident that Fenerbahçe will at least reach the semifinals of the Europa League this year.

The Karabağ Epic
The Azerbaijani representative continues to write history under their already legendary coach Kurban Kurbanov. They displayed a top-tier performance in the Champions League qualifiers and were drawn against Dinamo Zagreb, a team known for producing star players from their youth academy. They crowned the return leg, which they had lost 3-2, with a resounding 7-2 victory. While advancing through these stages might not seem like a huge success to us, for a team with such a budget, it is quite significant. Last year, they missed the Europa League quarterfinals by just one goal, against Leverkusen, who were the finalists of last year’s Europa League and the undefeated champions of the Bundesliga. From those days to today, Karabağ has been signaling its potential. Now, there is only one obstacle left before they reach the Champions League group stage. If they can overcome this hurdle and make it to the groups, they will compete in the Champions League as the team with the lowest budget in the tournament. Who knows, maybe they will even advance beyond the group stage. Good luck, brothers…

Beyza Cihan (Editor-in-Chief of Sports Declaration):

“Fenerbahçe’s loss against Lille is related to bad luck and management issues. The team’s components are still not fitting together, leading to communication problems. At this point, Fenerbahçe needs to learn the necessary lessons for success in Europe quickly. While I believe Mourinho’s students will find a way, the current problems are significant and require urgent reinforcements. Karabağ’s success, on the other hand, is due to the coach’s deep understanding of his players and the well-timed substitutions. I wish Karabağ success in the Champions League; these two different results carry important lessons for the future of Turkish football. I love Karabağ a lot. They continue to represent us in the best possible way. Their communication and strategies within the team are very smart.”