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Türkiye’s national football team head coach Vincenzo Montella outlined his ambitions ahead of the World Cup qualifiers in an exclusive interview with Anadolu Agency at the Riva Hasan Dogan National Teams Camp and Training Facility.
The Italian coach, whose Turkish citizenship has been a topic of speculation, said with a smile, “I’m still waiting for the offer,” while joking about his close rapport with players: “Maybe I have Turkish blood.”
Montella stressed the importance of big goals for Türkiye. “We’re preparing to give our all to participate in a tournament we haven’t qualified for in 24 years,” he said. He noted the first qualifier against Georgia as crucial and praised their recent progress compared to Euro squads.
“We must focus match by match. Our first goal is to get through the opening game and take it step by step toward our target,” he added. “Ideally, we’d qualify directly, but we need to advance gradually.”
Montella described Türkiye’s qualifying group as one of the toughest, featuring Spain, Georgia, and Bulgaria, but emphasized that the team’s approach will remain methodical.
Addressing squad composition, Montella highlighted the need for balance over focusing solely on star players, mentioning Spain’s Pedri, Nico Williams, and Yamal. He also confirmed monitoring Ferdi Kadioglu’s recovery and praised Samet Akaydin for his unique defensive qualities.
On young talents, Montella said he avoids adding pressure too soon. “Every player’s development is different. We should nurture them physically and emotionally without rushing,” he said, citing Andrea Pirlo’s progression in Italy’s youth system as an example.
Montella also commented on the progress of national football team stars Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz, currently with Real Madrid and Juventus, respectively, noting their growth enhances the national team’s level.
Reflecting on Türkiye’s club scene, Montella welcomed recent high-profile transfers to the Super Lig, including Osimhen and Jhon Duran, highlighting their positive impact on the league’s reputation and competitiveness.
Montella concluded by underlining the importance of player continuity: “The most important thing for me is that players keep playing consistently.”
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