Tedesco’s Calm Before the Storm in the Fenerbahçe–Galatasaray Derby
Alright, let me walk you through what’s happening ahead of the massive Fenerbahçe–Galatasaray derby, a match that already carries enormous weight but feels even more electric this season. And honestly, you can sense that energy everywhere, just as Fenerbahçe manager Domenico Tedesco said himself. According to him, when you work at a club that hasn’t lifted the league trophy in 11 years, the hunger is almost tangible. You feel it in every interaction, in every corner of the city, because Fenerbahçe fans are everywhere. That electricity follows the team to the stadium each matchday, and now it’s building toward derby night.
This will actually be Tedesco’s first experience of the Intercontinental Derby—one of the fiercest rivalries in world football. Fenerbahçe represent Kadıköy on the Asian side of Istanbul, while Galatasaray come from the European side. The two sides sit just one point apart at the top of the table, which adds an entirely new layer of drama. The setting is perfect, and the pressure could not be higher.
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Tedesco, who arrived in September after José Mourinho’s disappointing tenure, has changed the atmosphere around the club. Since taking over, he’s kept Fenerbahçe unbeaten in the league, averaging 2.4 points per match. A big highlight was the incredible 3–2 comeback victory over Beşiktaş earlier this month. The fans, already starved for success, are starting to believe again. Some even joke on social media by comparing Tedesco to Mehmed the Conqueror—a surreal but amusing comparison for him.
But the road here hasn’t been simple. Only two weeks into Tedesco’s arrival, the club held its presidential elections. The mood was tense, nerves were high, and everything—from staff to players—felt unsettled. Add in the suspensions and injuries that disrupted his squad selection just days ago, and you can imagine how tricky this period has been. Still, he says things have finally stabilized. The team has found its rhythm at the perfect moment.
Now he faces what he calls a “sweet dilemma.” Instead of scrambling to fill spots, he suddenly has too many in-form players fighting for a starting place. The midfield is especially competitive, with İsmail Yüksek and Edson Álvarez performing brilliantly, even though Fred has just returned with a strong performance. The wings are another battlefield, as Asensio’s consistency competes against Talisca’s game-changing impact. And up front, Tedesco has to choose between En-Nesyri, who continues scoring, and Jhon Durán, who has regained fitness and confidence.
Defensively, things are clearer—Škriniar, Semedo, and Oosterwolde are locked in, and Levent Mercan seems to have the edge at left-back.
All of this leads into Monday evening, when everything will be put to the test. If Fenerbahçe win, they won’t just take the top spot—they might also set Istanbul’s streets dancing with the samba Tedesco loves to see from his team.
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