Al-Shabab Coach Fatih Terim answered the questions of press members at Istanbul Airport. Here are the highlights of the experienced technical man’s statements:
“IF WE ARE SATISFIED AT THE END OF THE SEASON, CONTINUE”
Many things were discussed. We came to a better decision. If we are satisfied at the end of the season, we continue; if we are not satisfied, something else is considered. I want to turn all our concentration to the league, the cup and the team. I’m in that situation now.
“I AM VERY GOOD AND AMBITIOUS!”
I am very good. Anyway, if I don’t have that ambition, I will say it myself. I follow and read everywhere. I’m ready, I’m good. My wife has a very nice word for me, “Don’t retire your football mind,” so I’m fine. Let me open a parenthesis for my colleagues, they are all important people. But I would like to add a parenthesis to what I have worked on so far. For example, there is no Necati this time. I’ve worked with many people in my life. All of the friends I work with are very valuable and precious to me. I also saw the extraordinary work determination of these friends of mine. That’s why my friends who work with me are very valuable to me.
“ATTENTION TO DECEMBER 27”
A league where the eyes of the world are on you. With very famous players and coaches. We are going to a country that won the 2034 World Cup. I’m curious about many things too. We were already in Doha a few months ago. I went to Panathinaikos on December 27 last year. Again, December 27th. It is necessary to pay attention to the months of December.
Fatih Terim: Last year, when we went to Panathinaikos, the date was December 27th. So, we will have to pay attention to December. We can go somewhere. pic.twitter.com/wVDZfhmsMR
— Sabah Sports (@sabahspor) December 27, 2024
“TRANSFER FROM TURKEY…”
If we remember, the 14 Turkish mandatory rules we set are not the 14 foreign ones. Let me say this once again, we still have managers who do not know. From there, we see that Turkish players play more abroad. We call players from the most important clubs in the world to the national team. This is my pleasure and happiness. Turkish players are everywhere, there is Merih there too. There are also players leaving us. This is a very natural thing, but I can’t talk about it right now. It could be. There is no team in the world that a Turkish player would not play for.
💥 Al-Shabab Coach Fatih Terim: It is said that the next 4 teams have more important squads than us. I know this as a coach who follows the world, but I have not had any transfer talks with anyone yet. pic.twitter.com/aOXdWVuIRo
— A Spor (@aspor) December 27, 2024
“IN MY TEAM IN SAUDI ARABIA…”
I also know the importance of the cup. Thank God, my contributions were received in the places we went, with or without me. We will try to go all the way. My other friends will also come this evening. My assistants are Levent Şahin and Hamza Hamzaoğlu. There is Mert, there is Eray. Of course, I have analysts and a goalkeeper coach. There is an athletic performance coach. We are going with such a team.
The Emperor takes the throne in the Lion’s Den 🦁👑Welcome to Al Shabab, @fatihterim Gentleman! 🤍🖤 pic.twitter.com/gajMjGnOmL
— AlShabab Saudi Club (@AlShabab_EN) December 27, 2024
“FOUR TEAMS HAVE BETTER SQUADS”
It is said that the next 4 teams, not 3 but 4, have more important squads than us. As someone who follows the world, I know this too. But I haven’t had any transfer talks with anyone. I did not mention any names to the management. This is a time when we need to act very quickly. We have a match on the 6th, it’s almost until New Year’s Eve. If it’s going to be done, it’s going to be done here, but frankly, from the moment we started talking, we talked about the team and the players. There are players I know. I’m trying to get information about players I don’t know. I did not leave anyone in the teams I joined without seeing them. If they tell us, we will tell them where it is needed. It is certain that those four teams are ahead, but we will not accept it. We have to make our touches as soon as possible, I hope we will.