Turkish national team head coach Vincenzo Montella shared his thoughts after the 0-6 draw against Spain in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The Italian manager openly expressed his dissatisfaction with both the result and the game, according to fanatik.com.tr.
"We are all very upset - it's painful for the players and the fans. I am also disappointed with the result.
Initially, we had several opportunities, but we couldn't take advantage of them. The opponent scored two goals. In such a situation, trust is lost.
We wanted a completely different development of events, but the game turned out differently. We are a developing team, there is room for growth. If we act wisely, we will learn the necessary lesson from this defeat.
Tactically, this match is impossible to analyze. Our football players couldn't show their best game because they were burdened with responsibility. The opponent won all the duels everywhere - it's not about tactics.
We must not lose our spirit. This game will be a big lesson for us. We will get out of this situation together, we will become stronger," Fanatik quoted the Italian specialist as saying.
Adding to the assessment, Montella emphasized that opportunities at the beginning of the match should be used with all their might, otherwise the opponent's first goals would disrupt the psychology. He believes that on this night, the hosts lost almost all their fights, losing positions at key points on the field - as a result, the score worsened, and the scenario shifted to the opponent's favor.
At the same time, the coach emphasized that the team is on the path of development and has sufficient reserves for growth. He identified "acting wisely" towards growth as the first condition: drawing conclusions, properly distributing responsibilities, strengthening mental preparedness, and correctly responding to opponent pressure.
In conclusion, Montella noted that he perceives this defeat as a painful lesson, but expresses confidence in strengthening together in the next stage. He emphasized that it's not about the tactical line - it's about restoring team spirit, confidence, and determination in duels. In this way, this major defeat can also become a source of motivation and experience before the upcoming games.
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