In recent weeks, things have not looked so good for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in Turkey. Everyone acknowledges that there is a lot of work to be done before Besiktas can once again be considered one of the big clubs in Europe.
This summer’s transfer market will be important for the overall reorganization that the team will undergo. – A sign that they are thinking long-term is Besiktas’ desire for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to be involved in all processes, including the purchase of new players.
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Besiktas impressed with a 5-1 win over Hatayspor at the Tüpraş Stadyumu to secure third place in the Turkish league – a place that provides Europa League qualification.
Big game ahead
Next week, a highlight awaits when Solskjaer meets his old rival José Mourinho for the first time in Turkish football, when Besiktas (3rd place) travel to Fenerbahçe (2nd place). A win here can really turn Turkish football on its head!
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Superb comeback win
Against Hatayspor, Besiktas really showed character after falling behind early on. Ciro Immobile became the hero of the match with his first hat-trick for the club – two penalties and one great goal – while Rafa Silva and Keny Arroyo contributed two more goals in a convincing finish.
Solskjaer’s positive development (despite a tiring few weeks)
When Solskjaer took over in January, Besiktas were in a disappointing sixth place. Now, under his leadership, the team has:
- Won 6 out of 12 league games
- Climbed to third place
- Created optimism among fans
Jonas Svensson played the entire game as a full-back and contributed to the stable defense.
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The gold medal match in Turkey
With Galatasaray as league leaders (5 points ahead of Fenerbahçe), next week’s clash between Fenerbahçe and Besiktas will be extra exciting. A win for Solskjaer could shatter Mourinho’s golden hopes – and at the same time strengthen Besiktas’ own position. – a loss for Jose Mourinho could actually be a trigger for him to move on to a new club.
After the Mourinho meeting, relatively decent games await against Adana Demirspor, Alanyaspor, Caykur Risespor and Bodrum – a perfect opportunity to consolidate their podium place.
With this win, Solskjaer has really made his mark on the team, and Besiktas fans can look forward to an exciting end to the season!
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on the Fenerbahçe derby: “We have to!” to Fanatik
Beşiktaş coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer spoke out after the 5-1 win over Hatayspor in the Süper Lig.
Match Rating
Solskjaer commented on the match:
“The opponent scored first and led 1-0. Murat Hoca’s team fought well and created chances. They were better than us in the first 30 minutes and deserved more goals. Murat is a good coach. After our first two goals, we played much better. We defended stronger, won more duels and created quick counter-attacks. I’m happy with the win and that the fans go home happy. Now we focus on the next game.”
Praise for players
The Norwegian coach praised the team’s effort:
“The team worked hard. Every player will win. I am happy that Emrecan Terzi is back from injury. Ciro [Immobile] works incredibly hard – he deserved the hat-trick. Mustafa plays with great fighting spirit and fights for every ball. As a team, we showed good fighting spirit, and when we fight like that, our chances of winning increase. Today we proved it with five goals.”
Focus on the Fenerbahçe derby
On the end of the season, Solskjaer said:
“The goal is third place. Five games remain, and we have to work hard. It starts with the Fenerbahçe match – we have to prepare well. It will be a tough, but exciting derby we are looking forward to. We have to end the season positively. The atmosphere at the training facility this week has been fantastic and that helps with the results.”
In the Süper Lig’s round of 33, Beşiktaş secured an important victory over relegation-threatened Hatayspor thanks to goals from Immobile (3), Rafa Silva and Arroyo.
Key points:
- Beşiktaş ended a three-game winless streak.
- Hatayspor are now mathematically relegated.
- Beşiktaş is still keeping his hopes of European Cup play alive.
Relegation-ready teams in the Süper Lig (as of April 25, 2025):
- Adana Demirspor
- Hatayspor
Next match: Beşiktaş against Fenerbahçe – a highlight that could decide the European dream.
Next week, José Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will meet for the first time in Turkey when Besiktas (3rd place) visit Fenerbahçe (2nd place).
After the meeting with Mourinho, Solskjaer’s side have relatively easy opponents in the last four games: Adana Demirspor, Alanyaspor, Caykur Risespor and Bodrum.
