Sports Media Highlights Key Performances in Fenerbahçe’s Bodrum FK Triumph

The Fans’ Team! – Gürcan Bilgiç

This 90 minutes not only reminded Mourinho of the quality squad he has but also boosted the confidence of the players. It was anticipated how much of this play style would carry over to the Bodrumspor match. Mourinho’s lineup with two defensive midfielders was like a “defensive” counterstatement in response to his reputation.

We could write “the fans’ team” as a side note. After the fifth minute, he brought İrfan Can Kahveci to the center, and gave Maximin instructions to move inside. Fenerbahçe’s wingers were now Osayi and Kostić. While Fenerbahçe controlled the ball, they were waiting for moments of offensive action. Players had freedom to act as they pleased because there wasn’t a set plan. It was clear they hadn’t worked enough on the two-striker formation or the pace brought by the full-backs. (SABAH)

The Favorite Won – Faik Çetiner

As the first 15 minutes passed, Fenerbahçe went ahead with a gift pass from goalkeeper Sousa, capitalized on by En Nesyri. After the goal, Fenerbahçe found opportunities through attacks from the right by İrfan Can (who might be on the bench next week) and from the left by Maximin, but couldn’t extend the lead. Mourinho made no substitutions at halftime. Early in the second half, the opposing goalkeeper assisted Amrabat, who set up Dzeko to score, making it 2-0. At that point, the opponent lost grip on the game.

Osayi played well but lacked finishing skills. Whether Kostić has made a major impact is debatable. After Amrabat joined, İsmail Yüksek’s form dropped. I doubt Mourinho will use this lineup against Trabzon next week, and I’m curious when we’ll see the two forwards (Dzeko and En Nesyri) play together again. (FANATİK)

Keeping Both Forwards on After 2-0 Was Positive – Uğur Meleke

Fenerbahçe is in a stretch of six games in 22 days. Mourinho couldn’t play all these four league and two European games with the same lineup and had to make use of the squad depth. Perhaps for this reason, Szymanski and Tadić were on the bench yesterday, and he tried a 4-4-2 with Dzeko and En Nesyri starting together.

Despite the score being 2-0 in the 70th minute and with four new players coming in, he didn’t disrupt the formation and continued with the 4-4-2, showing he learned lessons from the Göztepe and Kasımpaşa matches. (HÜRRİYET)

Training Match – Tayfun Bayındır

It was barely more than a friendly… A few sporadic chances in the first half, a goal from a goalkeeper error. In the early second half, a Dzeko goal from a high press, and an Amrabat performance, that’s about it.

Amrabat was the best player yesterday, delivering an almost flawless performance as a defensive midfielder, capped with an assist, though I must emphasize that he felt squeezed between the center-backs due to İsmail’s lack of support. There’s no doubt that a fit and high-tempo Fred, along with yesterday’s Amrabat, could create some remarkable stories. (MİLLİYET)