AZIZ YILDIRIM HAS THE FINAL WORD: ISMAIL KARTAL CONTINUES

The resignation earthquake that shook Fenerbahçe after the AS Roma match was swiftly resolved through the direct intervention of President Aziz Yıldırım. Following İsmail Kartal's shock resignation announcement after the historic Champions League game, Yıldırım held an emergency press conference to declare that the experienced coach would remain at the helm. Emphasizing that he had no prior knowledge of the resignation, Yıldırım stated, "Would I have come here if I knew he was going to resign? None of us knew." The president transparently revealed the reasons behind the departure, explaining that Kartal made the decision due to a water bottle being thrown at his head from the stands and immense social media pressure. "Tonight, a water bottle was thrown at his head. That's the reason. Can people endure this much trouble? We are all under stress. I spoke with him; he talked about the bottle, the pressure, and taking medication," Yıldırım said in defense of his manager. Underlining that the team is achieving its goals, he added, "We said we would qualify for the Champions League, and we did. Who did we do it with? İsmail Kartal. We fully support him." Describing the veteran coach as a son to the club, Yıldırım concluded by highlighting their close relationship: "He doesn't need to tell me 'I will continue.' I am his elder. I told him he will continue. We are a family." With this statement, Kartal's continuation is officially confirmed.

IMAGE: HABERTÜRK