Fenerbahce lost to AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League (1:3), and the next day, Neftchi drew with Shamakhi (2:2), despite being ahead by two goals. I decided to write. What the fans of these two clubs have experienced and felt in recent years is similar...
Although Neftchi is closer to Beshiktash in Turkiye due to its black and white colors, it shares the same talent with Fenerbahce in terms of results. Both of them are among the first in their country according to their history, budget, number of fans, and the indicators on the field are nothing but disappointment.
In the last 11 seasons, Neftchi, which won the Azerbaijan championship only once, failed to enter the top three five times. Although Fenerbahce, which has longed for the championship for ten years, is two or three points behind the champion and even scored 99 points last season, it is not possible to conquer the top.
Things are not encouraging in Europe either. At best, Fenerbahce reached the quarter-finals of the Conference League, the weakest of the European Cups last season, and lost to the future winner Olympiakos in a crushing way (2:3, 1:0, pen. 2:3). Now, after four rounds in the Europa League, it is in 21st place with 5 points. For comparison, let's remind that Galatasaray is 3rd here with 10 points, Beshiktas is 18th with 6 points, and the main rival of Neftchi Qarabag is 29th with 3 points.
It is not worth talking about the adventures of Neftchi in the international arena. Although it was the Azerbaijani club that qualified for the group stage of the European Cup for the first time, after the success in the 2012/13 Europa League, it played only twice in the playoffs, but losing both times, it could not enter the 2014/15 Europa League, nor the 2021/22 Conference League.
In the last ten years, Neftchi coach has changed more than ten times. In the last six seasons, five foreigners have arrived, neither Italian Roberto Bordin, nor Romanians Laurentsiu Regekampf and Adrian Mutu, nor Montenegrin Miodrag Bojovic, nor Ukrainian Roman Grigorchuk have lived up to expectations.
During this time, compatriots Jose Mourinho is trying to do what coaches such as Dutchmen Dick Advokaat, Phillip Koku and Erwin Koeman, as well as Portuguese Vitor Pereira (twice) and Jorge Jesus failed to do in Fenerbahce. But he is not doing well either. They failed to qualify for the Champions League, losing at home to Galatasaray (1:3), in the last six matches they won only two matches, and also received a red card. Now there are rumors that Mourinho will go to Newcastle.
Ersun Yanali, the last champion of Fenerbahce, brought him back to the position of head coach in December 2018, took the 6th place with him in the 2018/19 season, and sent him away in March 2020.
And now, Neftchi has left the hope of Samir Abasov, who made him the champion of Azerbaijan in 2021. After his arrival, only one win was achieved in four matches. Of course, three or four weeks is too early to judge. Time will tell whether Abasov will be able to pull Neftchi out of the quagmire.
Rasim
Idman.biz
