Excited, brave, confident

Julide Sevim interviewed Fatih Terim before the critical match between Leeds United and Galatasaray. Terim is sure of himself.


Q: "How have you motivated your players for a match that is to be played without audience?
- You must be motivated if you are doing your job. And Galatasaray players do their job well. I let them get worried until 18:20 on Monday evening. I let them get contacted to their families and press. But as we come closer to the final I don't want them to have any contact with the outer world.
I'm clever enought that Turkish people don't listen to any speech for more than five minutes until there is any visual stimulants. This is why I kept my speech short. I didn't exaggerated anything. I wanted them face the reality. Noone can prevent what is going to happen. Football is our job. We will stay away from anything but footbal as we did before.
Q: "What are your expectations from the press?"
- I beleive in my players. I want the press to give true messages and calm the public.
Q: "Do you get psychological consultancy"
- No, not myself. But the football players work with Turgay Biser, we have a joined work togehter. I tell him to talk what with which player, and he talks to them. I act as a model for my players, thus we can come over with the problems.
Q: "How do you meet the reaction of the audience after games?"
- We know neither how to be sorry nor how to be happy. If those in the VIP stands don't know how to act, how can you get angry to those in open stands? The audience should quit cussing. I get disgusted when I see such things.
Q: "Won't you feel alone without audience?"
- We are not alone. We have received hundreds of faxes. I will read some of them to the players before the game, to let them know that they are not alone.
Q: "What is your comment about the game?"
- No matter if it looses the game, my team is the biggest football team in Turkey and even the most successful in Europe this year. Pages would not be enough to list its successes. Their behaviours both in and out of the stadium and their humanistic sides are as strong as their football.
Q: "You talk as if you're talking about your own children."
- Yes, exactly. I've never accused them in front of public. I have told them the truth when we are alone. I stand by them both in good and hard times. Q: "What do you estimate about the score?"
- Everyone plays this game to win. But people also make mistakes and may loose as well. We want to be victorious as well.