Turkey manager Vincenzo Montella said he would not blame his players after their 3-0 away defeat by Belgium, their third successive loss in the group stage.
Montella also defended Turkey’s participation in League A, describing it as “an honor, not a punishment” and saying the team was learning from the demands of competing at that level.
“I have nothing to blame the players for; they fought until the very end,” he said. “When you can’t make the final pass, can’t score, and the opponent does, the score won’t be what you want.”
He added: “We are continuously gaining experience and moving forward.”
Montella apologised to the supporters but insisted the players had given everything, saying nobody should be singled out for criticism.
“We are very sorry to the fans,” he said. “We give our all every time we step onto the field, and there’s no point in blaming the players; no one should be blamed.”
He identified Turkey’s first-half display against Italy as the only occasion when he believed the team had shown a mentality problem, adding that the players had responded in subsequent matches.
‘League A does not forgive mistakes’
Montella said the gap between competitive levels in international football had been made clear to Turkey during the group stage.
“At this level, you cannot make mistakes; opponents will not let your mistakes go unpunished,” he said. “Every three days, we test our strength at this level.”
He stressed that playing in League A should not be viewed negatively.
“Participating in League A is not a sin, but an honor,” Montella said. “We must continue to work hard, improve ourselves, and do our best.”
The manager also responded to chants calling for him to be sacked. He pointed to Turkey’s return to the World Cup after 24 years, promotion to League A and participation in the European Championship under the current group of players.
He said Turkey had been without several key players, including Hakan Calhanoglu, Kenan Yıldız, Orkun Kokcu and Mert Muldur, whose absence he described as significant.
Montella maintained that Turkey had competed with Belgium, despite the scoreline. Turkey recorded 40 touches in the opposition penalty area, compared with Belgium’s 26, and successfully executed its set pieces.
“Perhaps if we had been more decisive with our final decisions, we could have gotten a different score,” he said. “Unfortunately, the game ended this way, and the opponent was more clinical in these situations.”
He acknowledged that expectations had risen sharply over the past three years and said supporters were entitled to express their frustration.
“I am highly motivated and ready to work harder than ever before,” he said.
Montella also confirmed that Turkey were disappointed by the suspensions of Barıs Alper Yılmaz and Guler, describing both as important players. He said those remaining in the squad, many of whom were competing at this level for the first time, would continue the fight.
“Our fighting spirit is very high,” Montella said. “The players might feel sad, but they should hold their heads high because they have fought hard.”
