Yalçın: All of Turkey Needs This Win

Sergen Yalçın said the preparation period for his first match as head coach of the A Milli Takım has not been very long. Noting that they had done some specific tactical work for the Belgium match, Yalçın said they would all see together how quickly they could get results.

Yalçın also touched on the match being played at Gürsel Aksel Stadium. Recalling that they won two cups in four days there during their time coaching Beşiktaş, the coach said the stadium could be lucky for the team.

The successful coach, responding to a journalist's comment that they needed a win, stressed that it was not him but Turkey that needed the victory. Saying that the country, the public, the players and the technical staff all had this need, Yalçın said that if a win was to be achieved, it would be done together, and that he was only someone serving during this period.

Yalçın said they absolutely had to take three points to stay in the A Ligi, that they might possibly play a play-off match, and that these points were very valuable to them. He added that playing strong opponents helped them see their own level more clearly.

Responding to criticism about Arda Okan Kurtulan, who was not called up, Yalçın said Arda was in the squad but could not play because he had served with the Albania U21 national team. He said that, as procedure requires, the player must apply by petition to resolve this situation.

Yalçın attended the press conference together with Enes Ünal, who was called up to the candidate squad after a long time. Answering questions about the need for a striker by bringing Enes forward, he announced that Enes would start the match. Enes Ünal said he was happy to return to the national team and that it was the peak of his career. Regarding not being called up during the Montella period, he said he had expected it, that Montella wanted to play in a different way, and that perhaps he was not fully ready since he had just recovered from injuries. Enes also said he respected this choice.