Ole Gunnar Solskjær has come under fire following Besiktas’ shocking 3-1 defeat to Göztepe in the Turkish Cup quarter-finals on Thursday night. Despite taking an early lead through Ernest Muçi in the 30th minute, the match unravelled for Besiktas after Tayyip Talha Sanuç was sent off in the 36th minute, paving the way for Göztepe’s Brazilian striker Romulo to score a stunning hat-trick.
Turkish media wasted no time in criticising Solskjær’s tactical choices, with Milliyet columnist Bilal Mese delivering a scathing review of the Norwegian’s decisions. He said as quoted by Dagbladet “It is incomprehensible that the coach sent the team onto the field without a striker,” Mese wrote, questioning why young forwards Semih Kılıçsoy and Mustafa Erhan Hekimoğlu were left unused. He also criticised Solskjær’s reliance on Rafa Silva, stating, “Is Rafa Silva supposed to score goals or make assists? He is not a robot.”
Besiktas started the match confidently, controlling possession and creating chances in front of their passionate home crowd in Istanbul. However, Sanuç’s dismissal changed the dynamic entirely, leaving Besiktas vulnerable to Göztepe’s counterattacks. Romulo capitalised brilliantly, scoring three goals that left Solskjær’s side reeling and out of the competition.
Speaking after the match, Solskjær acknowledged his team’s inconsistency and admitted frustration with their performance. “The first 35 minutes were fantastic. We created big chances and could have scored more goals,” he said before lamenting how “idiotic goals” and a lack of composure contributed to their downfall. Reflecting on his turbulent tenure so far, he added, “It’s no surprise that I’m grey-haired.”
While Solskjær has overseen some improvement since taking charge earlier this year—highlighted by a recent win against Galatasaray—this defeat raises serious questions about his ability to deliver consistent results. With Besiktas sitting fourth in the league, they now face Kasimpasa on Monday as they aim to salvage their season and secure European football amidst growing scrutiny of their manager’s methods.
