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Türkiye head coach Vincenzo Montella played down calls for his resignation after the national team's 3-0 away defeat to Belgium in the UEFA Nations League, insisting that he remains highly motivated and ready to work harder despite mounting criticism.
Türkiye suffered their third defeat in three matches in League A Group 1, while supporters directed resignation chants toward the Italian coach following the match.
Asked about the reaction, Montella said he did not want to focus heavily on the criticism and pointed to the team's recent achievements under his management.
"I don't want to pay too much attention to the criticism. We went to the World Cup after 24 years with these players. We reached League A with these players. We went to the European Championship with these players," Montella said.
He added that Türkiye were now regularly testing themselves against opponents at the highest Nations League level and described the experience as preparation for the team's future development.
Montella defended his squad after the defeat, saying the players had fought until the end and should not be blamed for the result.
He argued that Türkiye had managed to get into promising positions but failed to make the final pass or turn opportunities into goals, while Belgium punished their mistakes.
"Playing in League A is a privilege, not a punishment," Montella said, adding that the national team was gaining experience while coming up against the level required in the competition.
The coach also said Türkiye were missing several important players, including Hakan, Kenan, Orkun and Mert Muldur, which he said had been strongly felt within the team.
Montella acknowledged that expectations around the national team had risen significantly over the past three years and said supporters were entitled to voice their dissatisfaction.
However, he made clear that stepping down was not currently on his agenda.
"I am very motivated and ready to work harder than ever," Montella said. "I know football very well. We will prepare better. I am not thinking about anything else."
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Montella also said he remained proud of the team's effort against Belgium, arguing that Türkiye had matched their opponents in parts of the game but had fallen short in decisive moments.
"There is no giving up," he said. "We have responsibility because we represent our country. We will try to perform in the best possible way."
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