Sports Journalists Praise Mourinho’s Tactical Adjustments in Fenerbahçe’s Win

Faik Çetiner: “Mou’s Night” | Mourinho, who usually avoids making halftime changes, quickly noticed things weren’t going well. Replacing İrfan Can and İsmail with Maximin and Amrabat disrupted the opposing defense’s balance. After the substitutions, Fenerbahçe applied immense pressure, yet the goal was elusive. Mourinho made another move, bringing on Dzeko and Szymanski for Osayi and En Nesyri. The visitors were pinned back and couldn’t counter. Eventually, the adjustments paid off as goals from Becao and Dzeko awakened Fenerbahçe from a nightmare. Fenerbahçe took a while to get going, but not every team will crumble like Gaziantep in a tight match’s final 15 minutes. (Fanatik)

Serkan Akcan: “Second-Half Team” | This game was reminiscent of the midweek clash in Prague. After wasting the first half, Fenerbahçe took control in the second. This has become a pattern Mourinho needs to address. The introduction of Amrabat and Maximin allowed Fenerbahçe to dominate possession and attack effectively. The team earned eight corners in 13 minutes, converting pressure into goals. Playing at Kadıköy demands such intensity. Oğuz Aydın, who started on the left and scored early, was among the best players on the pitch, even after his position changed. With Galatasaray dropping points to Eyüp, Fenerbahçe’s win significantly impacted the title race. (Fanatik)

Ömer Üründül: “Mourinho Wasted the First Half” | It’s hard to comprehend how a coach like Mourinho could squander the first half with poor lineup choices. Given the toll of the Slavia Prague match, the possibility of dropping points was real. Hopefully, Mourinho realized his mistake. Oğuz Aydın impressed me the most; Mourinho seems to have finally discovered last year’s standout winger. Gaziantep put up a commendable fight under Selçuk İnan’s management. (Sabah)

Gürcan Bilgiç: “The League is Heating Up” | Becao broke the deadlock during an otherwise ineffective corner routine. The stadium was energized, and Dzeko’s exquisite goal sealed the win. After the Prague game, this display showed the team’s growing mastery. With the title race tightening, whoever manages this pressure best will prevail, especially as the point gap with Galatasaray has narrowed. (Sabah)

Halil Özer: “Mourinho and Amrabat” | Mourinho addressed first-half issues during the break. Substituting İrfan and İsmail for Amrabat and Maximin fixed the team’s structure. Fenerbahçe’s midfield played closer to their opponents, preventing Gaziantep from advancing. Despite a valiant defensive effort, Gaziantep couldn’t withstand Fenerbahçe’s relentless pressure. Once Becao scored from a corner, the game was decided. Fenerbahçe corrected their first-half shortcomings by maintaining discipline and minimizing mistakes in the second half. Amrabat was the most impactful player, and Oğuz Aydın displayed remarkable energy on both ends of the field. Despite occasional errors, Fenerbahçe deserved the win. (Milliyet)

Engin Kehale: “Forget the First Half, Learn from the Second” | Mourinho’s halftime substitutions, particularly replacing İsmail instead of Fred, raised eyebrows but proved effective. Fenerbahçe dominated possession (69%) and earned 11 corners before Becao’s 78th-minute goal. Despite a modest expected goals tally (0.60), their pressure paid off, revitalizing the team and the crowd. Dzeko’s highlight-reel strike confirmed the three points. Fenerbahçe must aim to replicate their second-half performance throughout the match. (Hürriyet)

Uğur Meleke: “The Player Who Changed Position Four Times in 90 Minutes” | Fenerbahçe shifted gears after the break and secured victory due to three factors: 1) Amrabat and Maximin brought energy to the game. 2) Mourinho increased attacking numbers by moving Oğuz to right-back, resulting in the equalizer. 3) Fenerbahçe finally scored from a corner, breaking Gaziantep’s resistance. Oğuz Aydın, who played four different positions during the match, was the standout player. (Hürriyet)