İsmail Kartal said Fenerbahçe went to Lyon determined to win and qualify for the UEFA Champions League, but also explained that the club felt disadvantaged before this decisive return leg because its request to postpone the Gençlerbirliği match was rejected.
The Fenerbahçe head coach framed the UEFA Champions League play-off round second leg as a night that could last 90 minutes, or even 120, and stressed that his side arrived with clear ambition. At the same time, he pointed to the schedule, saying Fenerbahçe played Lyon 2.5 days after the Gençlerbirliği match, while Lyon came into the game after seven days of rest.
Kartal: Fenerbahçe want to carry their European rise into the Champions League
Kartal said both teams had come to this stage with the same target, but made clear that Fenerbahçe were not travelling to defend a scoreline. The aim, he said, was to win the match, reach the UEFA Champions League and extend what he described as the club's recent rise in Europe.
He told the squad to play together and be brave, and said he had spoken to them about Fenerbahçe's 18-year wait. Kartal also linked the game to the country's ranking, underlining that the result carried meaning beyond one club.
That is the tone of a coach who knows the scale of the occasion. Fenerbahçe are not just chasing qualification; they are trying to turn European momentum into something more permanent.
Why Fenerbahçe felt short on recovery
Kartal was direct about the practical disadvantage his side believed they faced. He said the club asked for the Gençlerbirliği match to be postponed, but the request was not accepted, leaving Fenerbahçe with less rest before facing Lyon.
According to Kartal, Lyon had the benefit of a full seven days before the return leg, while Fenerbahçe had only 2.5 days after their domestic fixture. He added that this kind of situation can happen anywhere, but said the club felt aggrieved by the decision.
Even so, the message from the head coach was not one of complaint. He said the team would not focus on that now, insisting they were concentrated on the game and ready to do everything they could to progress.
Team news, experience and the final decision
Kartal also acknowledged that Fenerbahçe were carrying injuries and absences, but presented that as an opening for the players who had not featured as much. He said nobody on the bench or outside the starting team should see it as a loss, because everyone would give their maximum if called upon.
He described Fenerbahçe as a group of quality and strong players, while pointing out that Lyon's squad had an average age of 23 and his own side were built around more experienced players. That contrast, he suggested, would make the tie difficult for both teams.
Before kick-off, Kartal said his staff would keep working through the details and decide on the best possible XI. For Fenerbahçe, the challenge was simple: overcome the schedule, handle the pressure and take the final step toward the UEFA Champions League.
