Jose Mourinho is a fantastic manager, at least he once was, but that he takes adversity calmly cannot be claimed. – Through Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s one sentence before the big game between Beşiktaş and Fenerbahçe later today Sunday also reveals the strategy for the evening. Make Jose Mourinho lose his head. (Which shouldn’t be particularly difficult.)
In the first city derby against Galatasaray, Beşiktaş took an impressive 2-1 victory, while today, Sunday, it is the other city rivals Fenerbahçe who await Solskjaer.
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It is already clear that Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray will come in first and second place in the Süper Lig, while Beşiktaş with a win will move up to 3rd place which gives play in Europe.
Solskjaer’s derby motivation: “The one with peace of mind wins”
Beşiktaş continues preparations at full speed for this weekend’s big match against Fenerbahçe. The black and white team gathered for a motivational meal in the evening, where President Serdal Adalı and board members were also present to strengthen team morale.
Easy to see that this is a real motivational meal!
Adalı’s call to the team:
President Adalı, who during the week has taken time for individual talks with the players, gave a speech to the entire squad during the meal:
- “This game means more than three points. A victory will please our entire community,” Adalı said, according to the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet who was present.
He emphasized the team’s disappointing season so far, but recalled the highlight when they beat Galatasaray:
- “Then you gave the followers a great gift by giving them their first defeat. I think you can give a similar gift by beating Fenerbahçe. The situation of the opponents is clear – they also want to win, but Beşiktaş is used to such big matches. Fans don’t just expect effort, but that you put your heart into it. You all know what this shirt represents – now you have to show it on the pitch.”
Solskjaer’s approach:
Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer expressed dissatisfaction with the media portraying the match as a personal duel between him and Fenerbahçe’s José Mourinho. In his speech to the players, he emphasized:
- “We will give everything for our fans and our community. It’s not the opponent that counts, but what we do. Both teams have good players… Whoever keeps a cool head and gets to play their game wins the derby. Just make their game dominate.”
Jose Mourinho welcomes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the Ülker Stadyumu Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Spor Kompleksi later today, Saturday.
Key Points:
- Adalı emphasized the shirt’s honor and fan expectations
- Solskjaer focused on mental strength and his own style of play
- Both leaders emphasized the importance of the match beyond points
Beşiktaş will be looking to secure a morale boost after a volatile season, while Fenerbahçe are fighting to keep up at the top. With both teams’ coaches being former Manchester United profiles, this promises a tactically fascinating showdown.
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