Foti Highlights Tactical Discipline: “Everyone Knows Their Role on the Field”
Fenerbahçe assistant coach Salvatore Foti spoke after their 4-1 victory over Gaziantep FK in the Ziraat Turkish Cup. Foti also responded to a question about the club’s request for foreign referees, stating: "I absolutely believe that the demand for foreign referees is justified. We all saw how Vincic officiated the match."
Fenerbahçe defeated Gaziantep FK 4-1, finishing at the top of Group B and advancing to the quarter-finals. Due to Jose Mourinho being referred to the PFDK as a precautionary measure, assistant coach Salvatore Foti took charge of the team and evaluated the match.
Foti’s statements to A Spor:
“EVERYONE KNOWS THEIR ROLE ON THE FIELD”
“We had a great run in January with back-to-back wins. Our aim is to maintain a balanced game, both with and without the ball, and I believe we have achieved that. The results speak for themselves. I’m happy with the team’s performance—there’s a strong sense of unity. Everyone knows exactly what they need to do on the pitch. Since January, we’ve been performing well, but we must keep this momentum going because we have many matches ahead. We continue our journey competitively in all tournaments. We are entering a challenging period, so we must always give our best.”
“THE REQUEST FOR FOREIGN REFEREES IS ABSOLUTELY JUSTIFIED”
“I absolutely support the demand for foreign referees. We saw how Vincic officiated the match—he did an excellent job. Not only Fenerbahçe but even the opposing players acknowledged his performance. These are referees who have officiated high-level matches in the European Championship. As a result, the matches are more balanced, and you can clearly see this on the field. Even in highly controversial penalty decisions, these referees make the correct calls. That’s why I believe this request is completely justified.”
