Emre Belözoğlu, who was appointed as the coach of Fenerbahçe, made a successful start by defeating Çorum FK 5-0 away in his first match as head of the yellow-dark blue team. One of the prominent names of the match was İrfan Can Kahveci. The performance of the national football player in recent weeks has brought to the agenda the question of how the jersey competition in the offensive line will be shaped after the return of the injured Marco Asensio.
İRFAN CAN KAHVECİ DOES NOT WANT TO LEAVE THE JERSEY
İrfan Can Kahveci, who had a bumpy start to the season, has recently increased his effectiveness in attack. The experienced football player, who played with one goal and two assists against Eyüpspor, also enjoyed scoring in the matches against Çaykur Rizespor and Galatasaray. He took his performance to the next level in the Çorum FK match. İrfan Can, who played his 200th match for Fenerbahçe, played an important role in his team's remarkable victory by scoring two goals. The national football player's effectiveness, especially around the penalty area, his shots with his left foot and his support to attack organizations are among the factors that strengthen the technical team's hand.
ATTENTION-RATING WORDS AFTER THE ÇORUM FK MATCH
Making a statement after the Çorum FK victory, İrfan Can Kahveci stated that he was satisfied with his physical condition. Stating that he has been paying attention to himself for the last few years and that his efforts have paid off, the national football player said that he was happy to play his 200th match with the Fenerbahçe jersey in his hometown. Speaking about Emre Belözoğlu, İrfan Can stated that the young coach knows the structure of the club well and is improving himself. The experienced player stated that, as a team, they aim to reach the championship at the end of the season.
LATEST SITUATION ON MARCO ASENSIO'S INJURY
Marco Asensio's injury process continues in Fenerbahçe. The Spanish star received treatment for a while after the injury he suffered in the Konyaspor match on August 22 and rejoined the team in September. However, in the following weeks, Asensio was re-checked due to complaints of swelling and pain in his knee, and a cartilage lesion was detected behind his kneecap. Fenerbahçe announced in its official statement on October 21 that the Spanish football player had an arthroscopic operation on his left knee and that the treatment and rehabilitation process is expected to last approximately three months.
WHEN WILL ASENSIO RETURN TO THE FIELD?
Considering the three-month rehabilitation schedule announced by the club, Marco Asensio is expected to return to the field in the second half of January 2027. However, it is not yet clear when the player will complete his individual training and reach match tempo. The Spanish star was not included in the camp squad for the Çorum FK match on November 8. For this reason, it does not seem possible for Emre Belözoğlu to benefit from Asensio in his short-term plans.
EMRE BELÖZOĞLU'S TOUGH CHOICE
The real competition in Fenerbahçe is expected to take place after Asensio fully recovers from his injury. İrfan Can Kahveci's ability to join the game setup by turning to the inner corridor from the right wing, creating a shooting threat around the penalty area and being able to serve in different positions in the attack provide important advantages. Marco Asensio, on the other hand, offers a different profile with his technical capacity, passing quality, vision of the game in narrow areas and his ability to direct attack organizations. The fact that both players are left-footed and can play in the attack areas on the right wing and in the center may make it difficult for coach Emre Belözoğlu to choose the first 11 while offering different options.
CAN TWO STARS BE ON THE FIELD AT THE SAME TIME?
One of Emre Belözoğlu's options will be to put İrfan Can Kahveci and Marco Asensio on the field at the same time. In this scenario, it is possible for İrfan Can to be evaluated on the right wing and Asensio behind the striker. Thus, Fenerbahçe can benefit from the passing and shooting features of two creative players in the offensive zone. However, this choice may bring about different regulations in terms of the team's defensive balance and player distribution in the midfield. The performance of the two players will be decisive, especially in the pressure and return to defense after ball losses. Another option is for Emre Belözoğlu to rotate between two players depending on the opponent and the course of the match. In this case, İrfan Can's form chart and Asensio's physical level after injury will play an important role in the first 11 decision.
PERFORMANCE WILL DETERMINE THE JERSEY
