Sputtering Fenerbahçe fumbles again amid rumors of coach Advocaat’s exit

ISTANBUL

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Fenerbahçe’s sputtering season continued over the weekend after the team failed to beat 10-man Aytemiz Alanyaspor in a Spor Toto Super League game on Oct. 16, fueling rumors of an early departure for Dutch coach Dick Advocaat.

The 1-1 draw was the third draw of the season for the Istanbul club, which has garnered a mere nine points out of a possible 21 in the first seven weeks of the league title race.

Fenerbahçe coach Dick Advocaat, who was brought in to replace Portuguese Vitor Pereira after the club’s failure to advance to the Champions League group stage in July, is reportedly set for departure following sub-par performances.

Advocaat’s decision to travel to the Netherlands during the international games break became a source of debate in the Turkish media, and the Dutchman sounded a bitter note when asked about it during a post-game press conference.

“He is well informed, and I will continue doing that,” Advocaat said after a reporter asked whether permission to leave Turkey during international breaks was a clause in his contract.

“It is quite simple, if the club thinks they can find a better [coach], they can do just that,” the coach added, fueling rumors of a possible coach change at Fenerbahçe. When asked if that was a signal of his possible departure, the coach said: “I will leave myself. There are no problems.”

Advocaat was not totally unhappy with his players.

“I cannot complain about the team not working hard. But if you want to play for the championship, you should be better,” he said.

Fenerbahçe striker Emmanuel Emenike, who was replaced by Aatif Chahechouhe in the 56th minute, left the pitch angry, without even shaking hands with his teammate, but Advocaat was not too concerned about the situation.

“I don’t care about that,” he said when asked about Emenike’s reaction. “He was angry [at being replaced]. I did not take him out because he was playing well, so probably he will understand that.”

As Fenerbahçe’s troubles continued, its city rivals won their away games to catch up with Başakşehir at the top of the table after the league leader was held to a 1-1 draw at home by Konyaspor in Week 7 games.

Beşiktaş beat Kayserispor and Galatasaray won against Gençlerbirliği, both 1-0, to level with Başakşehir at 17 points, with Beşiktaş in second place on goal difference. 

Fourth-placed Bursaspor and sixth-paced Osmanlıspor shared the spoils in Bursa in a goalless draw, while Karabükspor’s 2-1 victory at Adanaspor fired the club up to the fifth spot in the standings.

Trabzonspor continued to upset its fans with a goalless home draw against Akhisar, while nine-man Gaziantepspor managed to hang on for a 0-0 draw at Kasımpaşa. 

The week’s final game between the two teams at the bottom of the table, Rizespor and Antalyaspor, was scheduled for late Oct. 17.