Montella ‘did not expect’ such an angry Turkish reaction to 4-1 defeat | OneFootball

Vincenzo Montella insists he ‘didn’t expect’ the Turkiye fans to react so angrily during the 4-1 defeat to Italy ‘after all these lads have done in the last three years.’

The Italian tactician had already been facing strong criticism after the group stage exit from the 2026 World Cup, then a 1-0 Nations League home loss to France.

BURSA, TURKEY – SEPTEMBER 28: Vincenzo Montella, Head Coach of Turkiye, gestures during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Türkiye and Italy at Atatürk Spor Kompleksi Matli Stadyumu on September 28, 2026 in Bursa, Turkey. (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)

His men were shell-shocked in the first half against Italy, trailing 3-0 to goals from Alessandro Bastoni, Davide Frattesi and Michael Kayode.

Although Baris Alper Yilmaz pulled one back straight after the restart and had another disallowed for offside, Francesco Pio Esposito completed the 4-1 rout.

Montella facing angry Turkish fans

BURSA, TURKEY – SEPTEMBER 28: Vincenzo Montella, Head Coach of Turkiye, looks on before the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Türkiye and Italy at Atatürk Spor Kompleksi Matli Stadyumu on September 28, 2026 in Bursa, Turkey. (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)

“The first half-hour was certainly one to forget,” Montella told Sky Sport Italia.

“Playing every three days at this level requires a certain focus and experience that we are currently lacking. We were in the Nations League C two years ago, won the Nations League B last time, so we showed that we clearly need to improve in this aspect.

“It requires a mental as well as physical reset every few days, and that isn’t an easy thing to learn quickly.”

BURSA, TURKEY – SEPTEMBER 28: Arda Guler of Turkiye is tackled by Alessandro Bastoni of Italy during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Türkiye and Italy at Atatürk Spor Kompleksi Matli Stadyumu on September 28, 2026 in Bursa, Turkey. (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)

Montella was asked where it all went so very wrong against Italy in the first half.

“Certainly in the initial approach, they were more prepared mentally. We were uncoordinated, so we ran more and lost belief.”

Even before half-time there were loud chants from the crowd in Bursa calling for Montella to resign, along with the head of the Turkish Football Federation.

“They jeered the lads too after the first goal, who didn’t deserve it. The atmosphere was marvellous before the game, I really didn’t expect the reaction so quickly after all these lads have done in the last three years,” confessed the Italian coach.