Montella under pressure as players' mothers cry over Türkiye's performance

Vincenzo Montella, the head coach of the Türkiye national team, is experiencing one of the toughest periods since taking charge in 2023, as criticism against him has intensified following a disastrous start in the UEFA Nations League, which has continued from a disappointing participation in the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Türkiye's national team suffered three consecutive defeats in the Nations League, the latest being a loss to Belgium by three goals to nil. They currently sit at the bottom of their group without any points, having scored just one goal and conceded eight, putting them at risk of relegation to the second tier.

Results have sparked widespread anger in Türkiye, with Montella facing sharp criticism from the media, fans, and on social media. It has reached the point where sarcastic and harsh comments are being circulated, including that "even the players' mothers are crying" due to the level the national team is presenting, alongside calls for the Italian coach to leave and return to his country after the upcoming match against Italy.

Turkish coach Ersun Yanal has joined the list of critics, saying: "Pay him his salary and let him go! Send him away, and any other coach will come. We have plenty of players and coaches ready to fight like lions."

The Turkish newspaper "Hürriyet" has sparked controversy over Montella's salary and bonuses linked to qualifying for the FIFA World Cup, amid a decline in results, questioning the justification for the Italian coach receiving around 5 million euros, before launching sharp criticisms at the officials responsible for the national team.

Despite the anger, Montella tried to calm the atmosphere after the defeat against Belgium, taking responsibility and defending his players. He said: "Playing at the top level is a privilege, not a punishment. The team is gaining experience and we are competing. Unfortunately, this is the level of the top tier. We continue to gain experience. Our team is united, but we have very clear gaps."

He added: "I don't want to give too much importance to the criticisms at this stage. We went to the FIFA World Cup with this group of players, and we also reached the top level with this group."

The Türkiye national team is set to face Italy on Monday, October 5, in a crucial match for Montella, as Türkiye currently sits at the bottom of the group with zero points, behind France, Belgium, and Italy.