Fenerbahçe fumbles again amid fan fury

ISTANBUL

Fenerbahçe dropped down to the 15th spot in the Spor Toto Super League standings, one above the relegation zone, after a goalless home draw over the weekend, increasing fans’ pressure over coach Phillip Cocu.

Beşiktaş also failed to win in Week 8, conceding a goal in the dying minutes at Konyaspor for a 2-2 draw, while Ryan Donk’s late strike gave Galatasaray a 1-0 win at Antalyaspor, giving the defending champion a three-point lead in the title race.

Thousands of Fenerbahçe fans refused to leave the stadium after Oct. 7’s match against Başakşehir, calling for the resignation of Cocu and director of football Damien Comolli.

The Istanbul club has made one of its worst league starts in its history this season, winning only twice in the first eight weeks and losing four.

Despite the protests, Cocu vowed to stay in the post, arguing that his side “performed well.”

“We missed a deserved victory,” Cocu told a post-game press conference.

“We reflected a good team spirit on the pitch. I evaluated the game data and saw that we performed well. Out of 10 home games like this one, you will win nine. We had the scoring chances, but our percentage of converting is very low. We deserved a good score tonight.”

When asked if he would consider resigning, Cocu answered with a firm “no.”

“The performance tonight should be the standard for us,” he said. “The fans’ protest is normal. I have received their support and I’m happy with it. As long as they continue to support the team they can criticize me, I have no problems with it. We can change the situation with only good scores, and I firmly believe that we will succeed if we continue with such team spirit.”

Cocu will now try to make best use of the international break to better prepare his side before traveling to Sivasspor on Oct. 20.

In the Central Anatolian province of Konya, Beşiktaş’s Croation defender Domagoj Vida was sent off in the 28th minute leading to a penalty shot, and the early red card cost the Istanbul club.

Mustapha Yatabare put the home side ahead from the box, but the visiting side fought back and took the lead with back-to-back goals in the 79th minute and 80th minute from Vagner Love and Jeremain Lens, respectively.

However, Paolo Hurtado’s goal in the dying minutes earned Konyaspor a draw.

Yatabare failed to successfully convert a penalty shot in the 52nd minute.

Beşiktaş coach Şenol Güneş said Vida’s dismissal negatively affected his side

“We controlled the game when we were playing 11 aside,” he said after the match.

“However, we had to alter our game plan after Vida was sent off. Just like a champion team, we showed our true character even playing shorthanded and managed to bounce back, but it was not enough.”

Also in Week 8 games in the Turkish Super League, former Turkish international coach Mustafa Denizli started his spell at Kasımpaşa with a 3-1 home win over Göztepe.

Kayserispor was held to a 2-2 draw at home in a game that saw one red card each for both sides. Bursaspor beat Ankaragücü and Erzurumspor beat Alanyaspor with the same result, 1-0, both at home.

Trabzonspor won two games in a row for the first time this season with a 3-1 victory at Akhisar, and the goal frenzy between Malatyaspor and 10-man Sivasspor ended in a 4-4 draw.