In the 19th round of the Turkish Super League, Fenerbahce turned the tide after conceding a goal just one minute into the game. They eventually won 3-2 against Konyaspor, securing all three points. This victory marks their fourth unbeaten match in the league and their fifth unbeaten match in recent competitions. Mourinho's consecutive victories have kept the championship suspense alive for Fenerbahce!
In this match, Mourinho once again deployed his signature double-striker starting tactic, which he originally implemented during his time at Roma. During his tenure at Roma, Mourinho frequently used the double-striker tactic, accumulating top strikers like Abraham, Belotti, and Lukaku to lead the charge for the team. Under Mourinho's leadership, Roma was known for its solid defense, which is a stark contrast to the current Fenerbahce team. In his second year at Roma, seasoned fans will recall that when Mourinho's team took a 1-0 lead, the match was as good as over. This was one of the main reasons why Mourinho favored the double-striker tactic at the time!
Now at Fenerbahce, Mourinho has reintroduced the double-striker tactic. In this match, En-Nesyri and Dzeko started together, leading the charge for Fenerbahce! In previous matches, only one of Fenerbahce's two strikers could start, but with En-Nesyri recently rediscovering his scoring touch, Mourinho has restarted the double-striker tactic at a crucial time when Fenerbahce needs consecutive league victories to catch up in points. The intention is clear: the team must score goals to secure all three points, and the double-striker system is undoubtedly the best approach for Mourinho's team to conquer and seize victory!
Why is the double-striker tactic effective in scoring goals? Mourinho's top-tier tactical system is beyond question! First and foremost, it requires two top-class strikers. In Mourinho's tactical system, the center forward is indispensable, and Mourinho is undoubtedly one of the best coaches at utilizing them. Top-class strikers guarantee goals, which greatly frees up the flanks and midfield. When two strikers start, Fenerbahce can maximize every offensive threat!
In this match, neither En-Nesyri nor Dzeko scored, but they did an excellent job of distracting the opponent's defensive attention, creating numerous offensive opportunities for their teammates. In this match, midfield maestro Tadic contributed with a goal and an assist, while the two tough defenders, Skrtel and Mert, also made significant contributions! Throughout the match, Fenerbahce had a possession rate of less than 50%, which is the subtlety of the double-striker system: it does not allow for extreme ball control, meaning the opponents will also get plenty of chances, severely testing the team's defense.
Such a tactic is rare in today's world football, with only Mourinho favoring its use, and few coaches imitating it! Both Conte and Mourinho rely on the center forward tactic and have achieved great success in their careers. Currently, Fenerbahce has significant defensive issues, but if they were to introduce another goal-scoring machine to provide firepower, the double-striker tactical system would be invincible! Talisca's joining Fenerbahce is imminent, and Mourinho's Fenerbahce is definitely worth looking forward to in the second half of the season.
Currently, on the latest Turkish Super League standings, Galatasaray leads the league undefeated with 50 points, followed closely by Fenerbahce with 42 points. The season is still long, and Fenerbahce has a chance to make a comeback and win the title, provided they maintain stable league performances and secure consecutive victories, waiting for Galatasaray to make mistakes. The Turkish winter transfer window will open on January 13th, and according to Sabah, Fenerbahce has opened its purse strings, with the club set to receive a transfer budget of 40 million euros to strengthen the squad.