On 2026-10-11, Istanbul Başakşehir travelled to MEDAş Konya Metropolitan Stadium for the seventh matchweek of the Trendyol Super Lig. The encounter with Tümosan Konyaspor ended in a 0‑0 draw, a result recorded both as a 0‑0 skor and as a 0‑0 score. The match marked Başakşehir’s first away point in Konya, a detail noted by the coaching staff after the final whistle.
Immediately after the match, head coach Nuri Şahin stepped into the press room at the stadium. He described the contest as having a high level of struggle but only moderate viewing pleasure, noting that both sides created clear chances in the first and second halves. In his view, the realistic outcome was that each team deserved a single point, a sentiment he repeated in different phrasing during the conference.
Şahin emphasized the value of keeping a clean sheet on the road, pointing out that limiting the opposition’s chances was a positive takeaway from the draw. He then turned to the recent European disappointment, expressing regret over the early exit from continental competition but stating that the focus now lay on the future. The coach made clear that if Başakşehir finished the season in fifth place and Trabzonspor won the Turkish Cup, thereby lifting Başakşehir into Europe, he would not apologize for that outcome.
While voicing his criticisms, Şahin also expressed respect for Konyaspor and their coach İlhan.
During the same press conference, Şahin criticized the current qualification mechanism as unfair. He argued that it was unjust for Trabzonspor’s cup victory to grant a European place to the fifth‑placed league team, a situation that would allow Başakşehir to return to Europe despite not securing a top‑four finish. This critique framed his refusal to apologize as a principled stand against what he perceives as a flawed system.
While voicing his criticisms, Şahin also expressed respect for Konyaspor and their coach İlhan. He acknowledged the opponent’s effort and reiterated that Başakşehir’s objective for the season remained to finish fifth again, a placement that would secure European qualification and allow the club to contribute more to the country’s coefficient. Basaksehir finished fifth in the league last season.
Şahin’s comments also touched on the emotional aftermath of the early European exit. He recalled the sorrow felt after the first‑round elimination but stressed that the team was looking forward. The blend of regret, resolve, and tactical satisfaction formed the core of his message to supporters and journalists alike.
As of the press conference on 2026-10-11, Başakşehir sat with a hard‑earned away point, a clean sheet, and a clear managerial stance: accept the draw, value the defensive performance, keep the league‑fifth ambition alive, and refuse to apologize for any European place that might arrive via Trabzonspor’s cup triumph. The narrative that emerged from Konya was one of measured disappointment paired with forward‑looking determination.