By Basant El-Faramawy
Former Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt, now interim manager of Fenerbahce, says he will set aside his personal affection for his old club when the Turkish side host the Reds in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Interim Role and Liverpool History
Kuyt spent six years at Anfield between 2006 and 2012, winning the League Cup and reaching the Champions League final. He was placed in temporary charge of Fenerbahce last week following the resignation of Ismail Kartal.
Press Conference Remarks
Speaking at a press conference, Kuyt acknowledged the emotional weight of the fixture but insisted his responsibility lies with Fenerbahce. “As soon as the draw was done, I was really excited because everyone knows how much Fenerbahce and Liverpool mean to me,” he said. “Of course, tomorrow will be a very special occasion for me but at the stage we’re in, I’m not here for myself. I’m here for the club.”
Fenerbahce enter the match on a poor run, with only one win in their last five games across all competitions, including a 6-0 defeat to Aston Villa in the Champions League last month. Liverpool, meanwhile, are looking to recover from a 1-0 Premier League loss to Arsenal, though they have won all three of their Champions League group matches so far.
