Derby message from Aziz Yıldırım: Confidence against Galatasaray and Liverpool

Ahead of the Galatasaray–Fenerbahçe derby, Aziz Yıldırım expressed confidence in his team for both the league showdown and the Liverpool match. Speaking at the High Council meeting on 24 October, the Fenerbahçe president voiced his expectation of victories and stood behind head coach İsmail Kartal.

The same message for Galatasaray and Liverpool

After referring to the 2-2 draw with Slavia Prague, in which a 2-0 lead slipped away, Yıldırım said Fenerbahçe could beat Liverpool. He also said they would beat Galatasaray on Monday. These comments express the president’s expectations for his team; they do not establish the outcome of either match.

Continued support for İsmail Kartal

His speech was not limited to the opponents. Yıldırım said he would not dismiss Kartal unless the coach chose to leave and asked the club’s community for patience until May. His confident predictions therefore came with a message of continuity for the coaching staff.

My view: Confidence must translate onto the pitch

I see the effort to keep the team united around a shared objective as more significant than the prediction about the derby. Clear backing from the president could help the coaching staff’s working environment. The response, however, will come through the football. With the failure to protect a lead still being discussed, I will be watching the team’s discipline and its response to different phases of a match. After such confident words, the real measure will be whether Fenerbahçe can turn that belief into sustained performance.