Yanal’s Trabzon faces first test at Galatasaray

ISTANBUL

‘I know this structure very well, and it is a job for all of us to change it,’ says Ersun Yanal, who coached Trabzonspor in 2008-2009, too. AA photo

New Trabzonspor coach Ersun Yanal will face his first test this weekend when the Black Sea side visits Galatasaray for a Spor Toto Super League match.

Yanal, a former national team coach who has coached several Turkish clubs, including Fenerbahçe, Gençlerbirliği, Eskişehirspor, Ankaragücü and Denizlispor, started his second spell at Trabzonspor on Nov. 12, replacing Bosnian coach Valid Halilhodzic following the club’s dismal start to the season. He will have had 10 days to work with the team, thanks to a break for the Euro 2016 qualification and international friendly games, before matching up against Galatasaray on Nov. 22, hoping to clinch a victory.

Trabzonspor currently sits 10th in the Spor Toto Super League standings, while Galatasaray is in second with 19 points, behind leader Fenerbahçe on goal differential.

Yanal bids to build an ‘enjoyable team’

“Trabzonspor will show a difference in the way it performs,” Yanal told a press conference on Nov. 20. “It will be an enjoyable team to watch that respects its opponents and makes its supporters feel the players’ desire for victory.”

When asked about the large number of coaching changes in short succession for the club, which has had five different coaches in the last one-and-half years, Yanal recalled that it was not the first time he would coach Trabzonspor, adding that the issue is not local to the club.

“I know this structure very well, and it is a job for all of us to change it,” Yanal said.

“Everybody should contribute for stability; I believe that it is time for the Trabzonspor community to support this idea.”

Yanal coached Trabzonspor in 2008-2009, but the club and the experienced coach parted ways before the end of the season.

Trabzonspor will try to beat the odds against Galatasaray, since it has not won an away game against the three major Istanbul clubs, Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş, for 991 days.

The last time the Black Sea side won at one of the “Big Three” was on March 4, 2012, when Trabzonspor beat Beşiktaş 2-1. The club has lost seven games and drawn seven in Istanbul since.
Also on Nov. 22, Akhisar Belediye will host Mersin İdmanyurdu and Çaykur Rizespor will take on Istanbul Başakşehir at home.

Beşiktaş against city rival

The following day on Nov. 23, third-placed Beşiktaş will play city rival Kasımpaşa at home, Gaziantepspor will visit Torku Konyaspor, Kayseri Erciyes travels to Eskişehirspor and Gençlerbilrği entertains Karbüskpsor in Ankara.

League leader Fenerbahçe will visit Bursaspor, while Balıkesirspor plays Sivasspor at home on Nov. 24.