“I Want To Maintain Last Season’s Performance”: Orkun Kökçü Sets the Tone in Slovakia
Beşiktaş captain Orkun Kökçü cut his summer holiday short to join the team’s training camp in Slovakia and spoke to the press about his goals, the intensity of pre-season, new signings, and the club’s ambitions for the coming year.
“I heard the training tempo is really intense”
Kökçü began by describing his first impressions of the camp and the physical demands of the new season:
“Since yesterday I’ve been talking a lot with my teammates. They all told me the training tempo is very intense. That’s actually a good thing. In Europe I’m used to this kind of workload. Today I had my first real taste of our coach’s training methods. Hopefully everything will go well and we’ll be able to achieve great things together.”
The captain’s words underline that the technical staff has raised the bar physically and tactically. For a team aiming to compete on several fronts, this sort of high-intensity preparation is essential. Kökçü also hinted that he is comfortable with such demands, having already worked at top European standards earlier in his career.
“We want to bring Beşiktaş back to where it belongs”
Reflecting on last season, Kökçü was self-critical and clear about the targets for the new campaign:
“We want to take Beşiktaş back to where it belongs. Last season did not end the way we wanted. Beşiktaş deserves trophies. Beşiktaş must be competing for the title. We are fully aware of this. We will do everything we can. Our goal is to compete at the highest level and fight for the championship.”
In a few sentences, the captain summed up both the disappointment of the previous year and the responsibility resting on the squad. The message is unmistakable: the club should not settle for anything less than a title race and silverware.
The role of leadership in a rebuilding season
As captain, Kökçü’s public stance carries extra weight. His remarks suggest a shift from merely “reacting” to a bad season toward proactively shaping a winning culture in the dressing room.
By emphasizing that Beşiktaş “belongs” at the top, he’s not just setting an internal objective but also sending a signal to the supporters that the squad shares their expectations. In seasons following underachievement, such clarity from the armband often becomes a unifying point around which the entire club can regroup.
Calling Salih Özcan during transfer talks
Kökçü also revealed that he was directly involved, at least on a personal level, in the transfer process of Salih Özcan:
“I called him and asked a few things, but mainly I just wanted to know the outcome. From time to time I checked in with him, but the final decision was his. He chose to come here. He knows what he can bring to this club, and we know it too. We’re happy. I know him very well, and we have a very good relationship.”
These comments open a window into the inner dynamics of transfers from a player’s perspective. Beyond scouting and negotiations, personal relationships and locker-room chemistry can be decisive. Kökçü’s involvement shows that he is ready to act as a bridge between new signings and the existing squad, helping them adapt quickly and feel valued from day one.
What Salih Özcan can add to Beşiktaş
While Kökçü didn’t go deep into tactical details, his confidence in Özcan hints at a clear footballing plan. Özcan’s profile as a hardworking, disciplined midfielder who can contribute both defensively and in build-up play complements Kökçü’s own qualities on the ball.
For Beşiktaş, this pairing could mean more control in midfield, better protection for the back line, and a stronger platform for the attackers. With European and domestic competitions ahead, such depth and balance in the center of the pitch are crucial.
“I want to continue my performance from the second half of last season”
One of the most striking lines from the captain concerned his individual form:
“I want to continue my performance from the second half of last season.”
Kökçü’s level clearly rose after the winter break, and he is determined not to let that upswing be a short-term flash. Maintaining that standard across a full season means consistency, fitness, and mental resilience – all aspects he seems keenly aware of.
For a team that struggled collectively at times, having its captain perform at a high level can become a reference point. When leaders deliver, it often raises the demands and confidence of those around them.
Personal accountability and ambition
By singling out his own second half of the season, Kökçü is accepting personal accountability. Rather than hiding behind general team narratives, he’s setting an individual benchmark and inviting comparisons with his own best version.
This sort of ambition matters. It’s not only about goals or assists; it’s about decision-making under pressure, leading pressing triggers, dictating tempo, and showing up in big matches. If he can turn that late-season form into his new baseline, Beşiktaş’s overall ceiling will rise accordingly.
“We want to get through the round in the Europa League”
Looking ahead to European competition, Kökçü was cautious but determined when talking about their upcoming opponent in the UEFA Europa League:
“It’s a strong opponent. We can’t underestimate them. That’s why we’re here, working hard. We’re preparing in the best possible way. We want to get through the round.”
His careful wording reflects a professional approach: no underestimation, no complacency, but also no fear. For Turkish clubs, performing well in Europe is not just about prestige; it affects coefficients, future seedings, and the club’s international reputation. Kökçü’s focus suggests the squad understands these stakes.
The importance of a strong pre-season in Slovakia
The Slovakia camp is not just a formality. With intense training sessions and multiple friendly matches scheduled, it is the laboratory where tactical schemes, pressing structures, and on-ball patterns will be tested and refined.
For new players, this period creates their first real connection with the team’s playing philosophy. For established ones, including Kökçü, it’s a chance to rebuild physical foundations and adapt to any new ideas the coach is implementing. The captain’s early arrival, even at the cost of shortening his holiday, signals his commitment to being fully prepared when competitive matches begin.
Beşiktaş’s double friendly match day
Within this preparation framework, Beşiktaş is set to play two friendly matches in a single day. Such a schedule typically allows the coaching staff to give minutes to almost the entire squad, observe different combinations, and evaluate young players and fringe options.
For a captain, these games are also about setting standards. Even in friendlies, attitude, discipline, and professionalism are non-negotiable if a team is serious about “bringing the club back to where it belongs.” The way Kökçü and other senior players approach these matches will help define the culture for the rest of the season.
Negotiations for Ümit Akdağ and squad building
Alongside the main squad’s work in Slovakia, talks have begun for Ümit Akdağ, another piece potentially being added to Beşiktaş’s puzzle. Though details of the negotiations are not the captain’s domain, the process shows the club is still active in the market and looking to strengthen key areas.
Every new arrival subtly reshapes competition within the squad. For leaders like Kökçü, that means integrating fresh faces without disturbing the existing hierarchy, keeping the dressing room united while pushing everyone to raise their level.
The emotional bond between Kökçü and the fans
Among supporters, opinions about players can be intense, but many highlight Kökçü’s character as much as his ability. He is often described as honest, hardworking, and loyal. Choosing Beşiktaş despite having better financial or sporting offers elsewhere has been interpreted as a decision driven by passion rather than convenience.
Fans emphasize that, even when surrounded by a squad that may not always match his quality, Kökçü continues to shine and take responsibility. This emotional connection creates a different type of pressure: not only must he perform, but he also becomes a symbol of commitment in difficult times.
A call for unity in the stands
Within the fan base, there is a rising awareness that constant criticism and devaluation of their own players can be damaging. Some argue that while rival supporters enthusiastically protect and elevate their own, Beşiktaş fans sometimes become overly harsh on their “warriors” on the pitch.
The message from many is clear: the team on the field is the club’s face, good or bad. Instead of dragging players down with constant negativity, supporters are encouraged to lift them up, especially in challenging periods. If there is to be a “beautiful” Beşiktaş, many believe that transformation must start from the stands.
Looking ahead: shared responsibility for a better season
Taken together, Kökçü’s statements and the atmosphere around the camp point to a season built on shared responsibility. The coaching staff is increasing the intensity, the management is working on reinforcements, the captain is demanding more from himself and the squad, and fans are reflecting on how best to support their team.
For Orkun Kökçü personally, the mission is clear: to sustain and even surpass the level he reached in the second half of last season, to lead by example in Europe and the league, and to be the on-field embodiment of a club determined to reclaim its place at the top.