Fenerbahçe SK football director Oğuz Çetin has expressed strong belief in the team's ability to overcome Lyon in the second leg of their Champions League playoff tie. According to a report from DHA, Çetin also confirmed the club has withdrawn its request to postpone an upcoming Süper Lig match against Konyaspor.
Çetin assessed the team's performance following the 1-1 first-leg draw at Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium. "We will go to Lyon to advance. Our belief is very high. Our players believe in this," he said. He noted the team played its third match in a week and competed at the maximum level, but added that physical conditioning still needs to improve.
What about the postponed match request?
Oğuz Çetin made a clear statement regarding the club's earlier request to postpone the league match. He announced the club is stepping back from that demand. "We asked for something once. The Turkish Football Federation gave a negative response to our important reasons." Çetin stated. He clarified that, alongside President Aziz Yıldırım, they have declared they will not make such a request. Çetin said they are confident of beating Konyaspor and then going to Lyon to progress. You can check the latest Süper Lig standings on our site.
Are transfer activities ongoing?
Çetin confirmed that transfer work continues until the window closes on 2nd September. He said the club is evaluating options not just for a centre-back but for every area of the pitch. Following the signings of Milan Škriniar and Nathan Aké, a domestic centre-back for rotation is also on the agenda. "Everything is on the table. These studies continue wherever we need. We will get results in the coming days," he remarked. The current squad composition can be viewed on our squad page.
What is Marco Asensio's fitness level?
Discussing star player Marco Asensio's form, Çetin said he still needs time. He pointed to the effects of last season's injury and a late start to pre-season. "Marco Asensio is our most valuable player. He also needs a period," Çetin said, assuring fans that the club and coach İsmail Kartal have not given up on him. He noted a similar gradual process is underway for Nene, who is returning after surgery. Çetin stated these are tough weeks for the players and this process will continue until they are fully fit.
Fenerbahçe face a double challenge next week with an away Süper Lig match at Konyaspor followed by the trip to Lyon in the Champions League. The team's next official match is against Konyaspor on Saturday, 6th September. All fixture details are available on our fixtures page.
