Turkey Coach Refuses to Resign, Questions Critics: "Just Three People Shouting at the Airport"

His squad suffered two defeats in the group stage, losing their chance to advance to the round of 16 even before their final Group D match against the USA.

At Wednesday's press conference, Montella pushed back against the criticism he's facing both online and in person. "No, I won't resign. I still have energy and enthusiasm. I feel even stronger after this experience. If someone wants me to step down, they'll have to accept that I won't," the coach was quoted by AP.

The Italian tactician led Turkey to the World Cup after a 24-year absence, securing their spot through the "Slovak" playoff bracket in March. However, despite a significant shot advantage in their matches against Australia and Paraguay, his team failed to earn a single point or score a goal in the tournament.

The Turkish squad has become a target of fan criticism, with supporters shouting at Montella to resign as the team bus arrived in Los Angeles.

"I didn't expect only congratulations, but I also didn't expect this kind of communication. On the way from the airport, fans were cheering us on, but a group of three or four people were shouting negative things, and now everyone thinks the whole country feels that way," added the former AC Milan, Fiorentina, and Sevilla coach, who led the Turkish national team to the quarterfinals of Euro 2024.