Troubled Galatasaray starts life after Terim’s departure

ISTANBUL

Galatasaray players gather during their first training session without Fatih Terim. The Turkish champion did not specify who will lead the team on Sept. 29. AA photo

Galatasaray starts life after Fatih Terim with a tough game against in form Çaykur Rizespor in the Spor Toto Super League on Sept. 28.

The two-time defending champion is yet to be beaten in this campaign, but it suffered a severe blow on Sept. 24 when the club board announced it was parting ways with Terim, who has led the Lions to six league titles overall, including in the last two seasons.

The club board said it had sacked Terim, who is set to take over the national team on a full-time basis, after the 60-year-old declined to sign a contract extension. This decision was particularly shocking for Galatasaray fans, who strongly reacted to the decision.

The club is seeking a replacement for Terim and it is reportedly in talks with Italian Roberto Mancini, but it was still unclear who will lead the club on Sept. 28.

Davala, Şaş, Taffarel trio to bow out

Assistant coaches Ümit Davala, Hasan Şaş and Claudio Taffarel could make their final appearances on the bench, even though the Turkish media is linking forward Didier Drogba with a player/coach role.

The game is likely to be a dramatic affair with Terim, now full-time coach of the Turkish national team, reportedly to be present at the Türk Telekom Arena to attend the game.

Despite having the Terim blues, Galatasaray is coming off a probable derby victory on Sept. 22. The team was leading Beşiktaş 2-1 before the game was halted two minutes from time due to fans storming onto the pitch from the stands. The game is likely to be awarded as a win for Galatasaray, but ahead of the Sept. 28 match, Galatasaray still only has six points from four matches.

On the other hand, things are going well for Galatasaray’s opponents, Çaykur Rizespor. The Super League newcomers made a start beyond expectations and sit alongside Beşiktaş and Fenerbahçe as one of the only teams with 12 points from five matches. Also on Sept. 28, bottom-dwelling Gaziantepspor, which has only one point after five match days, hosts Kardemir Karabükspor.

Both games start at 7 p.m.

On Sept. 29, Fenerbahçe visits Gençlerbirliği, hoping to build on its four-match winning streak. The Yellow Canaries have not dropped a point following a shocking 3-2 defeat to Torku Konyaspor on the opening day of the season. Last week saw Fenerbahçe crush Elazığspor 4-0 and the club is on a high note, particularly while its rivals, Beşiktaş, which was handed a four-match stadium closure ban due to the derby incidents and Galatasaray, struggle with off-the-field issues.

Also at 7 p.m. Kasımpaşa, currently fifth with nine points, takes on Eskişehirspor.

Earlier, Trabzonspor takes on Torku Konyaspor in its last game before a crucial Europa League tie against Lazio, while Elazığspor meets Sivasspor also on Sept. 29.

Both games start at 4 p.m.

The sixth match day of the season will be wrapped up with two games, Kayseri Erciyesspor vs. Kayserispor and Medical Park Antalyaspor vs. Beşiktaş, on Sept. 30, both at 8 p.m.