Kartal is back, and he runs training
İsmail Kartal resigned after the Roma draw. Then he did not. Fenerbahçe 1–1 Roma in the Champions League opener on Thursday, and right after the final whistle Kartal announced he was walking away (2) (7) (11).
By Friday evening the club had reversed it. Their own statement: "Ismail Kartal always holds his position" (5) (6). Turkish outlet Sözcü says he never turned up to training and Oğuz Çetin tried to talk him round (1).
So he is staying. Fenerbahçe confirmed they continue with Kartal (15) (16), and he will be on the training pitch on Saturday (13).
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Kuyt is not taking over
Dirk Kuyt will not step in. Turkish media reported he would take the team temporarily after Kartal's sudden exit (14). A new club statement shut that down (9) (13). No interim role for Kuyt.
Next up: Gaziantep away
Fenerbahçe go to Gaziantep FK on Monday, 19:00 CEST (2). Kartal leads the side there. The club says training on Saturday starts at 11:30 (1). After that, Eyüpspor at home on Sunday, September 20.
The table, and it is not pretty
You are ninth of 18. Four games, six points, +2 goal difference. Form reads L W W L D.
The Besiktas loss hurt most. Fenerbahçe 1–2 Besiktas at home on September 5, after a 4–2 win over Konyaspor and a 0–2 win away at Samsunspor. The opening-day 2–1 defeat at Genclerbirligi still stings.
Europe: the one point that is worth something
The Roma draw echoed in Italy. Both the match and Kartal's resignation made the Italian press (7). A point against Roma in a Champions League opener is not nothing.
Archie Brown already made his mark in Europe this season. He scored Fenerbahçe's second in the 2–1 play-off win away at Lyon (8).
Fenerbahçe are Turkey's best club in Europe
Fenerbahçe are the only Turkish club in the top 30 of the updated UEFA club coefficient ranking (12). That table measures the last five seasons of European results.
Musaba picks DR Congo
Anthony Musaba has chosen the Democratic Republic of Congo for his international future. He is on loan at Norwich City from Fenerbahçe (17).
Fan reactions
The official announcement that Kartal stays landed flat on r/soccer. One thread simply quotes the club line that he "remains in charge of his duties," followed by the training time for Gaziantep, and the replies are pure disbelief after two days of a coach resigning and un-resigning. Nobody is sure what next week looks like. Read the thread
