Mohamed Salah's debut for Trabzonspor didn't exactly go how he would have hoped, with his new boss hitting out at his own side after dropping points in their opening league game
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - AUGUST 15: Mohamed Salah of Trabzonspor looks on during the Turkish Super League 2026/27 match between Kasimpasa SK and Trabzonspor at Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadium on August 15, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)
Mohamed Salah made his debut for Trabzonspor after joining the Turkish club earlier this month(Image: Getty Images)
Mohamed Salah’s debut for Trabzonspor didn’t exactly go to plan, with the Liverpool legend’s new club dropping points in its opening league game of the season.
Salah of course completed his move to the Turkish club earlier this month, having brought his nine-year spell at Anfield to a close at the end of last season. The 34-year-old was greeted by thousands of fans on his arrival, with the signing clearly a major coup for Trabzonspor.
The winger though has been swiftly brought back to earth after making his debut for the club, with his new side dropping points in its opening Super Lig game after being held to a 1-1 draw by Kasimpasa.
Salah made his way off the bench in the 58th minute, but couldn’t inspire his team to victory after Noah Saviola’s first-half opener was canceled out by Adrian Benedyczak’s penalty 10 minutes after the break.
The Egyptian fired an opportunity over the bar with 20 minutes to go as Trabzonspor was made to settle for a point against a side that had finished 34 points behind it last season, with boss Fatih Tekke not too happy as he spoke to the media after the game.
"The next four matches will be much more difficult,” he warned his side.
“We should have finished the game in the first half. As a result of a big mistake we made in the second half, the opponent equalized.
Mohamed Salah of Trabzonspor looks on during the match. Kasimpasa and Trabzonspor faced each other at 1st week of Trendyol Super League 2026/27. The match took place in Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadium on August 15th, 2026. (Photo by Burak Basturk / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images)
Mohamed Salah in action for Trabzonspor against Kasimpasa(Image: Getty Images)
“We had chances, we had opportunities to finish the game. It wasn't meant to be today. We didn't start well today, but in terms of gameplay, we were better than we planned in the first half. "
Bemoaning the penalty his side gave away, Tekke added: "We shouldn't do that. It's not possible to blame it on just one player, but when the ball is with us and going towards the touchline, it's due to this excessive desire, this eagerness to win the ball back as quickly as possible.
“The timing, the way of the tackle... Therefore, you get penalized. Of course, the player also needs to be careful individually in this regard. Because it's not easy to score a goal again, to get back into the game. We had chances today, but when it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen."
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Tekke concluded: “Today, when we had possession, especially in the first half, almost everything we wanted happened.
“After Trabzonspor takes a 1-0 lead, they need to take control of the game and reflect that in the score. At the same time, they need to avoid making simple mistakes. That's what happened today. If Trabzonspor is going to be better this year, they shouldn't lose points in matches like this."
Salah’s next game comes on Thursday, with Trabzonspor facing Hungarian side Ferencvaros in the first leg of its Europa League playoff, with the winner of the tie going on to claim a spot in the league phase of the competition.