Fenerbahçe Team Captains Share Inspiring Messages on World Fenerbahçe Day!

Fenerbahçe team captains Edin Dzeko, Mert Hakan Yandaş, and Dusan Tadic made special statements to Fenerbahçe TV on the occasion of 19.07 World Fenerbahçe Day.

Question: Thoughts About Fenerbahçe Before Joining the Team

Edin Dzeko: “YOU NEED TO SEE AND EXPERIENCE HOW GREAT THIS CLUB IS”

Edin Dzeko responded, “I heard a lot about Fenerbahçe. It’s a well-known club not just in Turkey but worldwide. Since Turkey is close to Bosnia, we followed the Turkish League matches, and many Bosnian players have played here in the past. So, I knew the league and Fenerbahçe very well. When you are abroad, you hear various things about Turkey. After coming here, I encountered many surprises. I knew how great this club was, but you need to see and experience it personally. After coming here, you realize even more how huge Fenerbahçe is. It’s sad that the club hasn’t won a championship for so long, but we are here to change that. We will do our best to achieve success this year and in the years to come.”

Mert Hakan Yandaş: “THIS PASSION AND LOVE FOR THE COMMUNITY BOTH PUT PRESSURE ON US AND MOTIVATE US”

Mert Hakan Yandaş said, “I had come to our stadium many times as an opponent. When playing for other teams, we felt the most impressive and high-pressure atmosphere at Saracoğlu. It was at a high level last season as well. It truly has an incredible atmosphere. Everyone who comes is surprised, especially the foreign players. This interest, passion, and love for the community put pressure on us but also motivate us. Fenerbahçe has shown many times in the past that it is an unstoppable community when united. I believe that not only people in Turkey but also worldwide recognize Fenerbahçe’s greatness. When Dzeko and Tadic came here, I noticed how much they understood the place during our dinner. Seeing them embrace this place made me very happy.”

Dusan Tadic: “PLAYING HERE IS A PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOR FOR US”

Dusan Tadic added, “I knew a lot about Fenerbahçe. We follow football, and Fenerbahçe is a huge club not just in Turkey but across Europe. I remember their Champions League matches and the championships they won in the league. Many great players have played here in the past. These were my initial thoughts before coming. I also knew our yellow and navy blue jersey well. I heard many good things about the fans. After coming here, I had the chance to see it myself. Playing here is a privilege and an honor for us.”

Question: Thoughts About Fenerbahçe After Joining the Team

Edin Dzeko: “Fenerbahçe is one of the rare clubs that competes successfully in many different branches. Whether it’s basketball or volleyball, there are many branches, and this makes the club not just big but gigantic. This is truly very important. The fans’ greatness is also very important for us. We are aware that we play in a very big club, and it is a great pleasure for us. We always try to do our best to show that we deserve this community. Of course, hearing about the club from the outside and being inside it are different things. After coming here, we saw how big the facilities, stadium, and fans are, which are the foundations of a big club. We are proud to be in such a big club.”

Mert Hakan Yandaş: “As a club, we are at an incredible level in all branches, both amateur and professional. We are the sports club that sends the most athletes to the Olympics, and this explains everything. Fenerbahçe Sports Club has a structure that processes a family concept that aims for championships and success in every branch, and this already shows its greatness. Every day you spend here, the things the fans and the community make the players feel increase the players’ attachment. When you come from outside, you can’t come with that sense of belonging, but after you come, every moment you live here completes everything. Seeing an old man running after the bus and crying in Finland made me feel different things for the club. There are many such examples. We have a young friend running in Hatay. The community is truly an incredible group, not just a sports club, with an incredible sense of belonging. I don’t think others could stand as tall and resilient as we have gone through. Once you’re inside, you feel more attached and feel like giving more.”

Dusan Tadic: “Competing successfully in so many branches is definitely something that very few clubs have. We are a very big family, and seeing this is very beautiful. Whether it’s the basketball, volleyball, or football teams, all branches support each other, and it’s truly incredible. Before coming here, I knew this was a very big, giant club, but I saw it even more after coming. Before coming, they told me, ‘You will love it even more after you go there,’ and it happened the same way. I was very impressed by our fans; they show great support both in our home matches and away games. This makes us very happy. Even when you have a downfall, seeing this support immediately motivates you to lift yourself up, and this is not something you see in many clubs.”

Question: Thoughts on World Fenerbahçe Day, Our Fans, and Unity

Edin Dzeko: “Fans are the most important thing for us, but we need to be united with them to be successful. We will do our best to win matches and achieve our goals. We ask our fans to believe in us and support us like last season. Things won’t always go well, and it won’t always be easy. In those times, their support is very important for us. Football is a game of mistakes. If there were no mistakes in football, there would be no goals. We, the fans, and people outside can all make mistakes. In such difficult times, being united is very important. They should be behind us. This is very important for a young player aged 16-17-18 and also for us. As the oldest player on the team, I can say that it is very important for me too. We and our fans should do our best to be successful and reach our goals. And we will do it.”

Mert Hakan Yandaş: “First of all, I congratulate our World Fenerbahçe Day. As before, I want to emphasize the unity of the community, like on July 3rd or the experiences we had last year. I have been saying this since I came. When we are united, there is no battle we can’t win, and I love this. We had good and bad times here, as Edin said, ‘All the players in this team are aware of the greatness of this community,’ and I think we showed this last season. I believe our fans saw this last season and reciprocated it. As long as we fight together with the same unity and for the same purpose, I think we will always celebrate our ‘World Fenerbahçe Day.'”

Dusan Tadic: “I probably agree with what Edin and Mert said. Although I didn’t fully understand what Mert said (laughing), we think the same, and we need to be united. We can’t be successful without being united. Our fans and we should always be united, like last season. Things won’t always be great, but it’s very important for us that they are behind us. We will give everything on the field, even our lives for this club if necessary. Our fans and we are hungry for success. As long as we are united and together, we will always be successful.”