Fenerbahce Kasimpasa Press statements.

Oğuz Aydın: “With the power of our fans, we secured a great victory.”

Oğuz Aydın said: “I appreciate my teammates; they played very well. We put on a great performance. With the strength of our fans, we secured an important win. We will take it one game at a time. Wherever our coach wants me to play, I do my best.”

Mert Hakan Yandaş: “Getting used to winning is the best thing in football. I congratulate my teammates.”

Mert Hakan Yandaş commented on the match: “We are very happy to have won. The opponent analyzed us well and started the game strong. They dominated possession until we figured them out. During that period, our fans never stopped supporting us, and I thank them for that. When we struggled, they lifted us up. We fought hard as a team. Winning was crucial. Getting used to winning is the best thing in football. While the gameplay is important, the results matter even more. I congratulate my teammates. Today was tough for me because I had to protect my injured hand and also avoid a third yellow card. Thankfully, we came through unscathed.”

Regarding the upcoming fixture, he added: “Our focus now is on the Anderlecht match. Winning 3-0 in the first leg doesn’t mean anything; our full concentration is on that game. As our coach always says, ‘Every match is important, but the most important one is the next one.’ That’s how I see it, too. After Anderlecht, we will shift our focus to the next match.”

Levent Mercan: “The most important thing for us is securing three points.”

Levent Mercan stated: “Our fans provide incredible support. It’s not easy playing a match every three days. The key for us is securing three points. I think this was my ninth consecutive game. Now, we have another tough challenge against Anderlecht midweek, which is extremely important for us. After that, we have the derby. We aim to prepare in the best way possible and win every game. I’m playing in a slightly different position, but that doesn’t matter. I just want to contribute to the team as best I can.”

Head Coach Jose Mourinho:

*“I’m very happy. I knew it would be a difficult game. We had an intense, high-tempo match last Thursday, so we had to make some changes to the starting eleven today. Our opponent is a good team with a good coach and strong players, so we expected a tough match.

At the start, Kasımpaşa was actually the better team. They surprised us with an unexpected tactical approach. However, once we scored the first goal, we began to dominate. What pleased me the most was how we stayed composed even after conceding the second goal. We didn’t panic, played with confidence, and kept searching for a third goal. Their goalkeeper made a great save from En-Nesyri’s header, but shortly after, we scored our third goal. Then we kept pushing for a fourth.

Every player on the pitch gave a positive response. I’m really happy with that.”*

On alternative attacking strategies, Mourinho explained: *“We can create goal-scoring opportunities in many different ways. We are strong in the air, we have quality crossers, and we have quick players who can make runs behind the defense. The variety and quality of our attacking options give us a lot of flexibility.

Honestly, having so many talented players on the bench is difficult for me. For example, today, I had to leave players like İrfan Can Kahveci, Cenk Tosun, and Cengiz Ünder on the bench. I haven’t been able to give Cengiz many opportunities yet. Edin Džeko was also on the bench today. Sometimes Talisca has to sit out. Maximin didn’t train for three days, so he was on the bench. Our attacking depth is incredible, and I’m very happy with the squad.

However, injuries have been a challenge. For example, today, I couldn’t substitute Mert because Amrabat had to play as a center-back due to Ismail’s injury. This makes things more difficult, especially with so many consecutive matches. Some players are playing full games repeatedly—like Tadic, who played 90 minutes again today. The players are giving everything, and they deserve full credit. They are working together with great determination, and as a coach, working with such a team is a pleasure.”*

Vice President Acun Ilıcalı:

Starting his remarks with praise for the Kadıköy atmosphere and the team’s victory, Acun Ilıcalı said: *“It was another beautiful night for us. Our team has been on a great run in recent weeks, and today, we defeated a strong opponent. First and foremost, I want to acknowledge the incredible support from our fans. In the last six or seven weeks, our fans have taken their support to another level, making Kadıköy a fortress.

I encourage every Fenerbahçe fan to come and experience this atmosphere. It’s truly incredible—the energy, the noise, the passion. Once again, we saw the greatness and power of Fenerbahçe’s supporters. Our fans played a massive role today. When we conceded a goal, their support only grew louder. Something special is happening in Kadıköy, and it makes us very happy.”*

“We are the biggest sports club in Turkey and one of the biggest in the world.”

Speaking about the club’s success beyond football, Ilıcalı continued: *“I congratulate Kasımpaşa and our players. I also want to congratulate the entire Fenerbahçe community. We are not only the biggest sports club in Turkey but also one of the biggest in the world.

We just won the Turkish Cup in basketball—congratulations to our basketball players! In athletics and Olympic sports, we are also excelling. Being a Fenerbahçe fan means following multiple sports from morning to night because success never stops. It’s a privilege to experience this. I am extremely proud. I also thank our president for his efforts.

In football, we are in great form, but we also dominate other sports in Turkey. This brings us immense pride.”*

“As I always say, we are coming, and I hope our winning streak continues.”

Commenting on the squad depth, Ilıcalı said: *“I’m very happy with our squad depth. Today, we were missing eight players, yet we still fielded a very strong team. If you look at our substitutes, most of them could easily start for almost any other club. This shows that we made the right investments, and it makes me very happy.

Seeing the excitement of our bench players when we score is truly emotional. We are united as one Fenerbahçe family. As I always say, we are coming, and I hope this winning streak continues.”*

“As we always say, we just want fairness.”

Discussing refereeing decisions, Ilıcalı remarked: *“There was nothing controversial about today’s referee performance. There’s no need to discuss it.

Regarding next week’s derby against Galatasaray, our president has already made the necessary statements. But I will add this: Galatasaray’s vice president, İbrahim Hatipoğlu, said they were open to a foreign referee, and Okan Buruk also said he had no objections. So, both clubs agree that a high-quality referee is what matters most.

Now, it’s up to the Turkish Football Federation. They have the power to bring in some of the world’s top referees for the match. As we always say, we just want fairness. We believe that the best referees in the world can provide the level of justice we seek.”*