Sergen Yalçın’s left‑wing surprise: Junior Olaitan set for key role against Göztepe
Beşiktaş head coach Sergen Yalçın is preparing an unexpected change on the left flank ahead of the home clash with Göztepe in the Trendyol Süper Lig. With El Bilal Touré ruled out through injury, the experienced manager is seriously considering starting winter signing Junior Olaitan on the left wing – a position that is not his natural role.
Touré’s injury forces a reshuffle
El Bilal Touré was forced off during the Başakşehir match with an injury that prevented him from continuing. Subsequent medical checks confirmed that the forward will be sidelined for at least four weeks. His absence has pushed the technical staff to revisit the attacking structure, particularly the left side, which has already been one of the most problematic zones for Beşiktaş this season.
Initially, the expectation was that more traditional wide options like Milot Rashica, Cengiz Ünder or Jota Silva would step in and claim the starting spot. All three have been waiting for their chance and are accustomed to operating in wide areas. However, Yalçın appears ready to take a different route.
Olaitan surprise on the left
According to reports from the team’s latest training sessions, Yalçın has been testing Junior Olaitan on the left wing in preparation for the Göztepe encounter. The Nigerian midfielder, signed from Göztepe during the winter transfer window for a fee of 6 million euros, was initially brought in as a reinforcement for the centre of the pitch, not as a wide attacker.
Nevertheless, his dynamism, ball‑carrying ability and vertical runs from midfield seem to have convinced the coaching staff that he could temporarily fill the gap on the left. The prospect of Olaitan facing his former club in an unfamiliar role adds extra intrigue to the match.
Since arriving at Beşiktaş in January, Olaitan has made three appearances in black and white. He has shown flashes of quality and an ability to knit play together in midfield, which is precisely why some observers are wary of moving him away from the centre.
Ndidi returns, three‑man central midfield on the cards
Another key decision by Yalçın relates to the structure of the midfield. Wilfred Ndidi, who missed the last league fixture due to his father’s funeral, returned to training at the start of the week and is set to be reinstated straight into the starting eleven.
The coach is planning to field a three‑man central midfield, with Ndidi expected to anchor the middle alongside Orkun and Asllani. This would mark a clear departure from the tactical approach of the first half of the season, when Yalçın primarily used a No.10 behind the striker – first Rafa Silva, later Cerny – in a more classic playmaker role.
In the second half of the campaign, though, Yalçın appears to be favouring a more compact, hard‑working midfield line of three rather than relying on a pure attacking midfielder. This switch is designed to provide greater stability, ball recovery and control in the centre – especially vital with the left flank being reconfigured.
Tactical plan: compact centre, experimental flank
If Olaitan is indeed deployed on the left, Beşiktaş are likely to adopt a structure in which the Nigerian cuts inside into half‑spaces while the full‑back overlaps to provide width. This could help compensate for his lack of pure winger traits by allowing him to operate closer to his natural central zones when the team has possession.
Ndidi’s presence as a defensive shield will enable Orkun and Asllani to push up more confidently and support both wings. The idea is to create overloads in midfield, prevent transitions, and free the attacking players to take more risks in the final third.
However, this plan brings its own risks. The left flank has often been described as a “black hole” for Beşiktaş this season – a zone where players tend to disappear and underperform. Several previous experiments with out‑of‑position players on the wing have backfired, and critics fear that Olaitan could become the latest victim of this pattern.
Fans divided over Olaitan’s new role
Among the fan base, the decision has already provoked mixed reactions. Some supporters are optimistic, arguing that if previous makeshift left wingers managed to contribute, a technically superior and more intelligent player like Olaitan could thrive even more, especially against defenders who know him from his Göztepe days.
Others are far more skeptical. They point to past examples where players were taken out of their natural positions, struggled, and then faced harsh criticism. There is a growing sense of fatigue among fans regarding this recurring theme: instead of signing a specialist left winger over several transfer windows, the club has repeatedly adapted central players to the flank.
For many, the concern is not only about the upcoming match but also about the long‑term development of Olaitan. They fear that constantly shifting his role could hinder his adaptation, rhythm and confidence at his new club.
The long‑standing left‑wing problem
The potential use of Olaitan on the left is not just a one‑off tactical trick; it highlights a structural issue in Beşiktaş’s squad building. Over the last few windows, the club has failed to secure a stable, specialist left winger capable of both stretching the pitch and contributing consistently to goals and assists.
Instead, forwards, attacking midfielders and even central players have been pushed wide to fill the gap. While such improvisations can work in the short term, they often come at the cost of individual performance and team cohesion. When players are constantly adapting to unfamiliar roles, their decision‑making slows down and their instincts in key situations are less reliable.
From a strategic standpoint, this match could be seen as a test of whether Yalçın can turn a perceived weakness into a temporary solution by using a hybrid midfielder like Olaitan rather than a classic winger.
Psychological dimension: facing his former club
For Olaitan personally, meeting Göztepe so soon after his transfer brings a clear psychological layer. Players often feel additional pressure – or motivation – when playing against their previous team, especially in front of a big crowd and in a new shirt they are still getting used to.
If he starts on the left, his familiarity with Göztepe’s defensive tendencies, pressing triggers and individual markers might actually be an advantage. He knows their structure, their intensity levels and the spaces they tend to leave open. Conversely, Göztepe defenders also know his preferred moves and may try to shepherd him into less comfortable zones, particularly near the touchline.
How he manages these emotional and tactical dynamics could determine whether the “surprise move” is remembered as a masterstroke or an unnecessary risk.
Beşiktaş’s physical and tactical “exam”
Within the club, this Göztepe encounter is seen as both a physical and tactical measurement for the team. With Touré injured, a new midfield triangle forming, and experimental solutions on the flanks, the match will reveal whether Beşiktaş can maintain intensity, structure and creativity across 90 minutes.
From a conditioning standpoint, relying on a compact three‑man midfield plus a hard‑working hybrid wide player like Olaitan demands constant running, pressing and counter‑pressing. If the team drops in physical levels, spaces may open up on transitions, particularly behind the full‑backs.
Tactically, the match should answer a few key questions:
– Can the Ndidi‑Orkun‑Asllani trio provide enough progression and final‑third supply without a classic No.10?
– Will Olaitan be able to influence the game from the flank, or will he be isolated near the sideline?
– Can Beşiktaş protect their left side defensively while still generating attacking threat from that channel?
Atmosphere at Dolmabahçe: nearly full house
Off the pitch, the club’s management has tried to ensure maximum support. Ahead of the Göztepe match, ticket prices were reduced, and the response was immediate: almost all available tickets have been sold.
Around 40,000 Beşiktaş supporters are expected in the stands, ready to push their side in what is considered a critical fixture for the team’s momentum. A loud, energetic home atmosphere could be crucial, especially if the new tactical setup takes time to click or if the team struggles early on to find rhythm down the left.
For Yalçın, the crowd can be both a boost and a source of pressure. An experimental lineup that works will be loudly applauded; if it fails, decisions such as pushing Olaitan to the wing or rotating out in‑form players will be heavily scrutinized.
Risk versus reward for Yalçın
From the manager’s perspective, assigning Olaitan to the left wing is a classic high‑risk, high‑reward move. If the Nigerian delivers, Yalçın will be praised for his vision and courage in using a versatile player in a flexible role. It could also temporarily solve a long‑standing issue on the flank and open new tactical options for upcoming matches.
If the experiment backfires, however, criticism will intensify around a few recurring themes:
– Overreliance on players out of position
– Failure to secure a natural left winger across multiple transfer windows
– Inconsistency in the use of promising talents and difficulty in giving them stable roles
In such a scenario, the debate about squad planning and the balance between short‑term patchwork solutions and long‑term structure will once again come to the forefront.
What success would look like for Olaitan on the flank
For this move to be considered a success, Olaitan does not necessarily need to score or assist. More realistically, his performance would be judged on:
– How often he manages to find pockets of space between the lines when drifting inside
– His contribution to ball progression, especially in tight areas
– Defensive work rate in tracking back and supporting the full‑back
– Ability to stay involved rather than disappearing from the game on the touchline
If he remains active, links well with the midfield trio and the striker, and helps Beşiktaş control that side of the pitch, the “left‑wing surprise” could be the first step toward redefining his role as a flexible, multi‑position asset rather than a pure central midfielder.
Looking ahead
Regardless of the immediate outcome against Göztepe, this match will likely shape how Yalçın approaches the rest of the season. A positive display from the remodeled midfield and Olaitan’s new position could encourage further use of a fluid system with interchangeable roles.
On the other hand, if the weaknesses of the left flank are exposed yet again, it will further underscore what many have been saying for a long time: without a true left winger in the squad, Beşiktaş will continue to rely on short‑term fixes and risky improvisation.
For now, all eyes are on Dolmabahçe – and on a 6‑million‑euro winter signing who may be asked to reinvent himself on the biggest stage, against the club that shaped his recent rise.