Stefan Kuntz, the technical boss of the Turkish National Team, which will play the Play-Off match with the Portuguese National Team on March 23 in order to participate in the 2022 World Cup to be held in Qatar, made a statement to beIN Sports, the broadcasting rights owner of the Super League matches.
Kuntz, who played in the Super League team Beşiktaş as a football player in the 1995/1996 season, compared his era with the current league and said, “The biggest change in my time was 3 foreigners playing at that time. Managers would usually be of the same nationality. To be honest, I was just thinking about my own performance and my team. I didn’t give much thought to other teams. At that time we played with Rosenborg and we were not successful in Europe. I was very focused on these issues. In my last term at Beşiktaş, I left with a lot of teachings.”
“I DON’T WANT TO JUDGE TURKISH FOOTBALL”
Kuntz, who stated that he watched the Galatasaray-Trabzonspor match, said, “As the national team coach, I watched the Galatasaray-Trabzonspor match. I don’t know if I can give an answer about foreign players because I am interested in Turkish players. When I go to some stadiums in Europe and watch live matches, I can do some matches, but I don’t want to judge Turkish football. Maybe I watched 16 live matches at the stadium. At least that’s how I watched it on TV. We are gradually getting past this observation stage. Some names may be included in our organization in March. “We need to prepare for the Portugal game immediately,” he said.
The coach, who will face Portugal on March 23 in the World Cup Play-Off, said, “What could I offer to young players? Sometimes I say don’t go out in the cold, so they don’t get sick. For example, how hard does Cenk jog, how many sprints does he throw and at what distances? We have a tactical point of view and a point of view of the players. If you say you will do 30 hard runs and 20 sprints, the players can do it in the next match, but the tactical part depends on the coach. The issue of pass frequency is also important. It is more important to pass the ball in a difficult area. How should you attack, by waiting, picking up the ball, or is it active with constant pressing? You have to choose between them. I talk to the players. It’s also very important to us. We want to prepare very well for the Portugal match in March,” he said.
“THAT’S IMPORTANT TO ME…”
Referring to the national football player Hakan Çalhanoğlu, who plays for Inter, one of the Italian League teams, Kuntz said, “The priority for me is which players have the ability to play in which position. For example, let’s consider Hakan Çalhanoğlu, the last matches he played were his best matches in the national team, I think. I wonder in which position he can be more successful in terms of his abilities. We do this work with all players. What we want to advance and make better is we want to win the ball farther from our own goal, we want to have higher defense. We want to put more pressure on our opponent’s court and win the ball. We want to improve them according to the statistics of the last games,” he said.
Kuntz said that the Turkish National Team would not be the favourite, against Portugal and possible rival Italy. I think we’re facing a little reality. We have to go step by step. I want to set up my defensive setup as far as possible. Your advanced players also need to have the ability and desire to do this. German players always press in the 3rd zone and throw hard runs, they do not get tired. I want to do this, but the players also need to be available. Maybe we are not the favorites in Portugal and Italy, but I expect the team to be able to show their different faces. We will not give our opponents easy times,” he said.
“IF SERGEN SEE ME, IT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED”
Finally, referring to the polemic he had with former Beşiktaş coach Sergen Yalçın, Kuntz said, “I haven’t had the opportunity to meet with Sergen yet. I look forward to meeting Şifo, Alpay, Ertuğrul as well. I’m waiting to see you, I’m open to them. If Sergen had seen the smile on my face and heard what I was saying by seeing my face, he would have understood my intentions. “The fact that he didn’t see me caused a misunderstanding.”
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