Our National Football Team will play a friendly match with Italy on Tuesday, March 29 in Konya. Before the match, National Team Coach Stefan Kuntz and national football player Hakan Çalhanoğlu make statements.
STEFAN KUNTZ: WE WILL PLAY
I will not explain tactics before the match. However, it is true what Hakan Çalhanoğlu said, we will play as three players. I visited many of my players and the subject of the system came up in the chats.
in Merih, Italy; Çağlar is already playing with this system in England. Ozan also sometimes plays with threes and sometimes fours. So my 3 most important defenders are prone to this system. I’ve already talked about this system with my players. They like it too.
My criticism was that the team did not believe in the victory in the Portugal match and did not show enough courage. I asked them if they wanted to play with the old system. But they told me the only question was courage.
Salih Özcan made a phone call after I became the coach of the national team and I asked him about his situation. I also want to thank Salih. He made and made his decision quickly. His family has been very supportive. TFF administrators also made transactions very fast.
HAKAN CALHANOĞLU: I WANT US TO PLAY WITH THE 3 DEFENSE SYSTEM
I am aware of this responsibility, I hope I will carry it proudly. After brother Burak, I am the captain. I’ve been wearing this jersey for years since 2013. I remember the times I spent with Arda and Emre brothers in the past years. Now, older brother Burak has left.
I think Italy will go well. Both teams failed to qualify for the World Cup and are upset. Tomorrow’s game is important to us. The people of Konya have always been good to us. Hopefully we’ll see a good game tomorrow.
I’m happy with the triple defense, that’s what I’m playing at Inter. Now I want us to play in this system too. That’s how everyone plays in the European qualifiers. You may experience difficulties at times. We had difficulties against Portugal, but we also found opportunities in the second half.
When we entered the locker room after the game, we were very calm. We were so sorry. No one can feel the sadness of brother Burak. He worked so hard for the national team. We tried to get him up. He has always taken care of us. I thank you here again.
We did not have a conversation with the teacher about triple defense. This is the decision of the teacher and the technical committee. I just gave my own opinion. I play with this system in Inter, for example, and Merih in Atalanta.