Fenerbahçe’s Win Was Not Enough: How the Europa League Exit Falls on Players, Coach and Fans

fenerbahçe’s late fight in Nottingham handed them a 2-1 victory at the City Ground, but the result only underscored immediate consequences: elimination from the UEFA Europa League, a morale hit for the squad, and raw frustration for travelling supporters. The win highlights which individuals shoulder the fallout first and which questions the team must answer now.

Fenerbahçe faces immediate impact: squad gaps, confidence and fan reaction

Here’s the part that matters: the club leaves Europe despite winning away, which concentrates pressure on players, the coach and the medical room. Tedesco's side could not erase the 3-0 deficit from the first leg, and that shortfall shapes the narrative of the match more than the comeback attempt itself. Squad availability — with multiple injuries limiting options — and a belief surge after going 2-0 up will be central talking points for the team moving forward.

Match details and decisive moments

The second-leg encounter at the City Ground unfolded with clear scoring landmarks and several key interventions.

• 12' — Anderson advanced on the left and delivered a cross into the box that was cleared by Fenerbahçe defenders.
• 22' — From a right-side cross by Sidiki Cherif, Williams failed to clear; Kerem Aktürkoğlu controlled and finished past goalkeeper Ortega to make it 0-1.
• 24' — Anderson forced a narrow miss with a powerful shot from a tight angle.
• 45+1' — Kante threaded a pass behind the defense; Kerem's heel set up Cherif, whose attempt was blocked by Ortega.
• 46' — Kerem was fouled in the box by Jair Cunha and referee Mariani awarded a penalty.
• 48' — Kerem converted the penalty to extend the lead to 0-2.
• 68' — Ola Aina's right-side cross found Callum Hudson-Odoi at the far post to pull the hosts back to 1-2.
• 76' — Seventeen-year-old Alaettin Ekici made his first European appearance, replacing Sidiki Cherif.
• 79' — Igor Jesus had a one-on-one opportunity but Tarık Çetin denied him.
• 89' — Hutchinson faced Tarık in another chance; Tarık saved again.

Despite the 2-1 result in the match, the aggregate score favored Nottingham Forest 4-2, and Fenerbahçe exited the competition.

Individual notes: Kerem, Tarık, Nene and a teenage debut

Kerem Aktürkoğlu delivered the scoring punch: he struck at 22' and again from the spot at 48'. This appearance was his ninth UEFA outing in the starting eleven; the two goals lifted his tally in this European competition to six. Domestically, Kerem has four league goals and added one in the Super Cup, giving him eleven goals for the season in total while wearing the Fenerbahçe shirt.

Tarık Çetin emerged as a focal point after the match. He saved at least two clear chances late (79' and 89') and reflected on the squad's circumstances, noting heavy injury issues, the intent to enjoy playing despite absences, and that the team believed in progressing after reaching 2-0. He also spoke about his own path: long spells without playing, initial difficulty on return, extra training to close gaps, and a hope to contribute more. He praised the supporters who backed the side until the final whistle.

Dorgeles Nene could not finish the match. He went down with a blow in the 18' minute but continued, then suffered another problem at 43' and was substituted at half-time for Nelson Semedo. Alaettin Ekici, 17, recorded his first European minutes when he came on in the 76' minute; he has also appeared this season in the Ziraat Türkiye Kupası.

What this exit changes and forward signals

Elimination concentrates short-term priorities: squad recovery, evaluating young options such as Ekici, and clarifying goalkeeper rotation after Tarık's performance. The real question now is how quickly the team addresses the injury list and whether the belief shown after going 2-0 can translate into consistency in the domestic schedule. A sustained run of healthy selections and a clearer attacking plan would be signals that the club is shifting from this setback.

What's easy to miss is how a single first-leg deficit reshaped the tie: the second-leg victory felt like a moral win but did not change the outcome. That distinction will influence internal assessments in the coming days.