Following back-to-back titles, the Black Eagles were unable to enjoy a good season in the Super League as they finished it in the 4th place. However, their Champions League group stage run was a great consolation for the fans.
They managed to do a great start to the season, dropping only two points in their opening five games, but then they failed to record any victory in the next four. It was all due to a busy schedule which included also the Champions League and the Turkish Cup.
During the group stage, coach Senol Gunes and his players were sometimes criticised because they have been giving more importance to their Europe run. After they grabbed all three points in CL on the road against Monaco, they offered a perfect performance till the 3th game day and became the biggest candidate for the leadership. They looked also like full candidates to the title in the Super League.
After they found out their opponents in the last 16 round, all plans changed, because very few believed that they could eliminate Bayern. That is why they lost less points comparing to the season’s first period, but this performance could not bring them a better place than the 4th in the league, which is a big disappointing result for them. Besides it, some players, including Vagner Love and Alvaro Negredo, were far from the expectations. The duo have been unable to fill the role of Cenk Tosun who was sold to Everton.
Since they failed to qualify for the CL and get financial support, they will have to be careful with their budget in the summer. In order to decrease the expenses, they will have to part company with some players like Tosic, who was sold to a Chinese club. If they manage to save the quality of this season’s squad, they will fight for the title as usual.
