Fenerbahçe manager Domenico Tedesco made five changes to the starting lineup for the Süper Lig match against Kasımpaşa on Monday, February 23, 2026, according to reports.
Tedesco stated his primary focus was securing a win against Kasımpaşa, emphasizing that the team’s selection was geared towards that objective and not influenced by their recent UEFA Europa League match against Nottingham Forest. “Her şeyden önce bugünkü maçı kazanmak istiyoruz. Kazanmak için en iyi 11’leri çıkartıyoruz. Nottingham Forest maçlarını düşünmüyoruz, bu maçı düşünüyoruz,” Tedesco said, meaning “First of all, we want to win today’s match. We are putting out the best 11 to win. We are not thinking about the Nottingham Forest matches, we are thinking about this match.”
The Fenerbahçe manager acknowledged the challenges posed by the Süper Lig schedule and the need to manage player fitness. He specifically mentioned Mert Müldür and Kerem Aktürkoğlu, noting their high-intensity playing style and the importance of protecting them from fatigue. “Sakatları ve eksikleri göz önünde bulundurmamız gerekiyor. Mert Müldür ve Kerem gibi oyuncular maç içerisinde çok fazla sprint atan oyuncular. Bu yüzden onları korumamız ve dikkat etmemiz gerekiyor,” Tedesco explained, translating to “We need to consider the injuries and absences. Players like Mert Müldür and Kerem are players who sprint a lot during the match. We need to protect them and be careful.”
The absence of defender Skriniar similarly factored into Tedesco’s considerations. He confirmed the team would play with a back four against Kasımpaşa, but remained uncertain about the formation for future matches. Tedesco described Skriniar as “the heart and captain” of the team, emphasizing his importance both on and off the field. “Skriniar, bu takımın kalbi ve kaptanı. Bizi dışarıdan destekleyecek ve her zaman takımla birlikte. Birkaç hafta bizimle olmayacak ve bizim de çözüm bulmamız gerekiyor,” Tedesco stated, meaning “Skriniar is the heart and captain of this team. He will support us from the outside and will always be with the team. He will be with us for a few weeks and we need to locate a solution.” He identified Çağlar Söyüncü as a potential replacement, highlighting his leadership qualities and expected contribution.
The match against Kasımpaşa is a crucial one for Fenerbahçe, as a win would notice them draw level on points with league leaders Galatasaray, who were defeated in their most recent match. The game began with a scoreless first half, with both sides creating opportunities but failing to find the back of the net.
