In a recent UEFA Europa League group match, Turkey failed to defeat the powerful Portugal. After the match, Turkey's head coach Montella was interviewed by the media and gave an in-depth analysis and summary of the match.
Montella began by talking about the starting lineup for the match, saying that Turkey did not play badly in the first 20 minutes of the match and even came closer to scoring. He emphasized that against a strong team like Portugal, if you can't score in the early part of the match, the subsequent matches will become more difficult. Montera admitted that the confidence of the Turkish players was affected after the opponents scored a goal, but the team quickly pulled themselves together and fought until the last moment of the game.
On the choice of goalkeeper, Montella explained the basis of his decision. He praised Turkey for having three excellent goalkeepers, with Bayndil being particularly impressive in the last two games. Montella revealed that the coaching staff made adjustments before the match due to injury problems. He is confident that whichever goalkeeper takes the field will be able to show a high level of play.
In response to a reporter's question about player fatigue and injuries, Montella gave a detailed answer. He mentioned that Günther did appear fatigued during the game and was at some risk of injury. When considering whether to play him or not, Montella made a careful weighing. At the same time, he also talked about Üzücek's recovery, saying that although the player has experienced a serious injury, the coaching staff will make reasonable arrangements according to his recovery status.
Summarizing the match, Montella once again emphasized the Turkish team's unimpressive performance in the early stages of the game. He pointed out that the team's first attack created a threat and that the game was balanced until Portugal scored the first goal. However, as the game progressed, Portugal showed more efficiency and eventually won the match.
Montella said, "We had a fierce confrontation with the top teams in Europe. Although the result was not satisfactory, this game was a valuable experience for us. We will learn from it and continue to work hard to improve the overall strength of the team."
