Montella at the national team: "Anyone expecting me to resign must accept it"

After the Turkish national team's performance at the 2026 World Cup put his future up for debate, head coach Vincenzo Montella gave a clear answer to resignation claims at a press conference. The Italian coach responded to the resignation question put to him with a determined stance, making clear he is not thinking of leaving the job.

In his press-conference remarks, Montella said: "The players support me. The president supports me. I took Turkey to back-to-back tournaments. I have put my heart into it. If anyone is expecting me to resign, they must accept it. Because I will not resign." With these words, the Italian coach stressed that he feels the support of both his players and the federation president behind him.

The Italian coach also took a humble but determined tone towards the criticism. Saying he has never been perfect, Montella noted: "I have never been perfect. Even when the media presented me as a perfect coach, I was not perfect. I make mistakes all the time. As a team we make mistakes too. Nobody is perfect. There is no perfect coach. If there is one, I would like to meet them," combining self-criticism with his view of the profession.

Montella also thanked TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu for his support. The Italian coach said the president had not withdrawn his support even in tough periods, adding: "Our president is with us every day and makes his support felt every time. When things go badly in football, being destructive is the easiest choice, but he takes an extremely constructive stance." In this period as the national team prepare for their final game of the tournament, Montella's determined stance is a clear answer from the coach's side to the debate over his future.

Image: Milliyet