Win over Austria gets a monkey off my back, says coach

TOPSHOT - Turkey's goalkeeper #01 Mert Gunok (L) punches the ball out in front of Turkey's defender #03 Merih Demiral (C) and Austria's midfielder #19 Christoph Baumgartner (R) during the UEFA Euro 2024 round of 16 football match between Austria and Turkey at the Leipzig Stadium in Leipzig on July 2, 2024. (Photo by Angelos Tzortzinis / AFP)

LEIPZIG: Playing in a friendly in March, Austria whipped Turkiye 6-1. So, beating the Austrians 2-1 to reach the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 was extra special for coach Vincenzo Montella.

“That was a horrible stain on my career. I was waiting to get this monkey off my back.