Cenk Tosun: ‘I am ready to play and I want to play’

Turkey’s National Football Team striker Cenk Tosun stated that he is ready both mentally and physically and eager to play. In the second match of Group F of the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship (EURO 2024) held yesterday evening at BVB Stadium, where the National Team lost 3-0 to Portugal, striker Cenk Tosun made statements at the press conference.

“Pepe was one of the best on the field”
Responding to a question about what he discussed with Portugal’s experienced defender Pepe, his former teammate from Beşiktaş, after the match, Cenk said, “He is truly a person I love and respect a lot. He already showed this to everyone on the field. Despite being 41 years old, he was one of the best on the field. We didn’t talk much about football after the match. We discussed more about his family, contract matters. He is a very good and valuable person. He did great things at Beşiktaş. I wish him success.”

“I am in good mental and physical condition”
Cenk Tosun also mentioned that he is in good mental and physical condition. The national player said, “I am training well. I eat well. I am ready to play. I am seen among the more experienced players here. I am sorry that I didn’t play, but we have a coach who makes the decisions. We all have to respect him. We are all here for a common cause. When we win, all of Turkey will win. We are not only representing ourselves but also the flag. I respect the coach’s decisions, but I am ready to play and I want to play.”

“I know very well what the coach thinks about me”
The 33-year-old player, emphasizing that he did not request a conversation from Head Coach Vincenzo Montella about why he didn’t play, said, “We arrived very late yesterday. I didn’t have the opportunity to talk to the coach. But I already know very well what the coach thinks about me. He shared these with me at the beginning of the tournament. A player who doesn’t play is unhappy. We are all here to contribute something to this team. I want to be beneficial to the team and win something for my country. A player who doesn’t play is unhappy. I didn’t request a conversation because I already know the coach’s thoughts about me.”

“I wanted to get into the game”
Cenk also mentioned that he was expecting to play in both the Georgia and Portugal matches, stating, “But as I said, we have a coach. He is our boss. We have to respect what goes on in his mind, what tactics, thoughts he has. Because we don’t know that, the coach made such a decision. We need to respect that. There is a very nice camaraderie here. I have been in the national team since 2011. I have been playing for the national team for 13 years. I have been with many national team players. I have worked with many coaches. I am sure that there is a great camaraderie in this team. We get along very well both on and off the field. Let everyone know that. I am very proud to be here. I am 33 years old. I still think I am good, fit, and ready to play. But we have a coach. I will never disrespect him. Whatever his decision is, that’s it.”

“We need to maintain this unity and togetherness”
Cenk Tosun asked Turkish football fans to continue supporting the national team, saying, “There was an amazing atmosphere in the first 2 matches. So, whether they came, didn’t come, supported us in front of the TV, I want to thank everyone. We need to maintain this unity and togetherness. Since tournaments, even winning the World Cup, happen only every two years, they are not very common. Tournaments have such unifying powers. Let them continue to support us. Yes, we had a very nice victory in the Georgia match. Our people like to say who should be our opponent in the final. After losing in the second match, they also like to criticize us. Let’s put that aside. Let’s all focus on this third match. Let’s unite, all together… As I said, when we win, you will also win, all of Turkey will win. Our position in the group is still good. Getting out of this group was our primary goal. We are not in a boasting position because of the Portugal match. Unfortunately, these things happen in football. We had a bad day, maybe we could have beaten Portugal another day. It was not a good game we played. We showed that we can do the opposite in the first match. We have already started preparing for the Czech Republic match. We will put what we have in that match, win that match, hopefully. We want to advance to the second round by at least getting 1 point.”

“The coach treats us like friends”
Emphasizing that he doesn’t have much of an opinion about Vincenzo Montella not assigning him a role, the crescent-star player stated: “Since the coach comes from the football world, he understands us. He acts not like a coach but like a friend to us. He tries to make everyone happy, to be cheerful with everyone, not only the 11 on the field or the players he plays. But he didn’t talk to me about why he didn’t let me play. I think it was a tactical necessity related to the matches because I don’t know his thoughts.”

Cenk also mentioned that he doesn’t know whether he will play in the match against the Czech Republic on Wednesday, June 26, and said that they find out who will be on the field a few hours before the matches as a team.

“Semih Kılıçsoy and Bertuğ Yıldırım are also upset”
Regarding whether he spoke with his forward colleagues, 18-year-old Semih Kılıçsoy and 21-year-old Bertuğ Yıldırım, who have not yet had the opportunity to play, Cenk Tosun said, “They are like me. I am sure they are upset like any player who doesn’t play. I didn’t have the opportunity to talk much with Bertuğ, but don’t get me wrong, Semih is like my son. We spend time together. He is also upset. He had a good season like me. He thinks the same way I do. He respects the coach’s decisions. He is waiting for his time, everyone’s time will come. The tournament is long, why do I say it’s long because I believe we will advance from the group.”