Oguzhan Özyakup thinks Besiktas has the ability to beat Ajax in the return. The Dutch-born midfielder came in as a substitute during the meeting between Ajax and Besiktas and was unable to change the 2-0 score, which was already on the scoreboard in the Johan Cruijff ArenA at halftime. “We have done our best and will do everything we can to get better,” Turkish media wrote from Özyakup’s mouth.
“We came here battered, we knew that. We also knew how strong Ajax was and that they would put us under pressure, so the start was difficult. In the second half we played a bit more forward and scored a goal, which was disallowed. That was controversial,” says Özyakup. The disallowed goal – after an alleged push by Kenan Karaman towards Jurriën Timber – also caused anger in the Turkish newspapers. fanatic speaks of an ‘outrageous mistake’, while Fotomaç and Hurriyet also dismiss the decision of referee Benoît Bastien as ‘outrageous’.
Sneijder about rejected goal Besiktas:
“I don’t think there’s much going on here.”#AJABES #UCL pic.twitter.com/STZZuYYR4x
— VTBL ? (@vtbl) September 28, 2021
“We have to be realistic. We have the ability to beat Ajax at home”, continues Özyakup. “First we have to go to Lisbon and play two games in a row against Sporting Portugal. We have to get six points there. We have to take it game by game and get as many points as possible, then we’ll see how far we get. We are going through a difficult period with many games, so we also have to protect ourselves.”
“It was a difficult game,” said Besiktas coach Sergen Yalçin. “At this level, things are simply not easy. Our plan worked and the first chance was ours (when Michy Batshuayi hit the post, ed.), we could have scored there. I have to say the guys fought for it. It will not be easy to make up for the deficit, the games against Sporting will determine our position in the group.”