In the 25th round of the Turkish Super League, Bashakshehir defeated Gyoztepe 2-1 at home. At the post-match press conference, head coach Nuri Shaxin assessed this result as "very-very important and valuable" for the team and openly spoke about the moments when the game was lost and how it was regained control.
Shahin noted that the main task for the team before the match was to determine the rhythm of the game and not allow "Gyoztepe" to play in its own style. He stated that Bashakshehir controlled the tempo for the first 15-20 minutes, even before the goal was scored.
But then the situation changed: the game gradually shifted to the style that "Gyoztepe" wanted. The coach acknowledged that this opponent could perform such "hard and uncomfortable" football better than many teams. Unfortunately, Bashakshehir also said they had adapted to their game in a certain way.
Nevertheless, the substitutions made in the second half and the team's quality play decided the fate of the game. According to Nuri Shakhin, a brilliant goal was scored, and the victory was saved "at the most opportune moment." He especially noted and thanked the players who joined the game after the game - Hamza, Onur, Ergun, Ivan Brnich, Miguel Crespo and Kazim. For the coach, this victory was a signal that strengthened his belief that not only the score, but also those who came off the bench could fight equally.
"We still have a long way to go. There are still 9 rounds left. But I believe that today we have taken a big and important step," Shakhin said.
About reaching 5th place and point difference
When asked about "Bashakshehir's" rise to 5th place, the coach assessed it not as "we beat only "Gyoztepe," but from the point of view of the overall struggle. According to him, if they had lost today, the point difference would have increased to six. That's why this victory is very valuable: the opponent was a team fighting directly for a place in the table.
Shahin also recalled another important aspect: they lost away to "Gyoztepe," and today they "returned" that result. In his opinion, two-game results can be of great importance in subsequent stages, especially at the end of the championship. Therefore, he stated that this match could be considered one of the league's key victories.
Injuries and risky decisions
At the press conference, the coach also addressed some of the team's problems. He said Opéry had a minor injury before the game but still wanted to be on the field with the team. Kazim has been unable to start the match in the starting lineup for the last 3-4 days due to his illness.
Therefore, Shahin admitted that some decisions were made at risk: unexpected situations occurred, but to save the game, it was necessary to put Kazim and Opery on the field.
However, he also emphasized that there were many options in the lineup: even if Kazim couldn't play, he hoped that Opéry would be ready. If the Opera isn't ready either, there are options like Festi, Onur, and Omar Ali. Moreover, in recent weeks, it's evident that Festi is adapting more and more to the team. Therefore, the coach said that he does not consider this issue a big problem.
I'm not thinking about Galatasaray yet
When asked about the match against Galatasaray in the next round, Shahin expressed an interesting opinion. He said he played for big clubs, but emphasized that he had never felt the pressure at Bashakshehir like this anywhere. Nevertheless, he openly stated that he is not thinking about Galatasaray yet: he has plans to rest for two days, enjoy this victory, and then return to training.
In conclusion, for Nuri Shahin, this 2:1 is not just a simple three point. It's about overtaking the opponent directly in the table, getting out of difficult moments that arise within the game, and proving that the team's reserves can also determine the fate of the game. And now the real exams are ahead: 9 rounds remain - and each one is close to the final.
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