Coach Özhan Pulat warns of 'a picture of shame': A €4 million budget cannot save a threadbare squad

In a rare press conference, coach Özhan Pulat used specific numbers and the squad situation to answer questions about his future. "We have a problem; we are not a squad with alternatives," the Turkish manager said. That sentence sums up the challenge of a club competing in the Turkish top flight with a budget of only €4 million. According to Pulat, his team was assembled in just 20 to 25 days with modest wages. That explains why squad depth hardly exists. "We tried to build a team in 20-25 days with modest wages. The president and the directors made great efforts, but we pay the price with a lack of options," he added. The message came after mixed results. Pulat mentioned wins against Gaziantep and Alanyaspor, and praised the tremendous stance against Beşiktaş. However, the team also dropped points at turning points against Gaziantep and Rizespor. "You get into a position and cannot score; there must be something else on the pitch," he admitted. Finishing has become one of the biggest obstacles. Pulat does not blame the players' effort; he points to the gap in quality and resources. "There is a chasm between us and our opponent," he said. The €4 million total budget is, in his view, the clearest proof. Compared with rivals, that amount is far too small for sustainable competition. The personnel situation exposes the limits. Pulat confirmed that defender Zec Jules had an intestinal infection and had to be prepared with serum even in the locker room to play. Taşkın just returned after six weeks out. Jacquet, Liamin and Sabir were all absent. Using a sick defender shows that the club has no other choice. "We do not have a squad with alternatives," Pulat repeated. This is not just a complaint; it is a warning about physical and form collapse. A thin squad without replacements easily falls into an injury spiral. Pressure grows as fans expect points against direct rivals. With the current squad, every match can become a gamble. Under this pressure, Pulat rejected resignation. He said: "I will not resign. I neither criticise the referee, nor vilify the opponent. I do not vilify my own player either. I put myself at the centre of the problem." That attitude shows a manager protecting the dressing room from outside pressure, even while his job security is questioned. Based on my experience of watching matches, a team with a €4 million budget cannot sustain possession-based football against opponents spending many times more. Instead, Pulat's team must choose a pragmatic approach, fast transitions and maximum efficiency in set pieces. Wins over Gaziantep and Alanyaspor show this is possible, but consistency is the challenge. A thin squad cannot repeat a good performance every week. The financial issue creates a chain reaction. With modest wages, the risk of losing players is high. Any standout performer becomes an affordable target for richer clubs. Pulat did not speak directly about transfers, but the story of a thin squad and low budget lays the groundwork for a selling-club model. If the team survives, young or breakthrough players could be sold to balance finances. The biggest question now is not whether Pulat keeps his job, but whether the club can manage the rest of the season. Many important fixtures remain. If the team keeps dropping points at turning points, pressure will rise. But if they can hold on through fighting spirit, the story will be completely different. Pulat chose to speak honestly about harsh reality: low budget, thin squad, many key players missing. He also warned about a "picture of shame" if the team accepts losing. That is a reminder that attitude can compensate for class differences. However, the team needs more than occasional good matches. They need a collective ability to overcome the crisis and stay focused. For fans, Pulat's words are both reassurance and a warning. The team is not short of spirit, but spirit cannot replace players who need serum to play. The real issue is whether the club can strengthen in the next transfer window. If not, the relegation battle will become harder. Özhan Pulat may talk about the budget chasm, but he also knows that the transfer market has no mercy for the naive. Turkish football has seen many small clubs survive through unity and smart tactics. Pulat's club is trying to do the same. Yet the difference lies in squad depth. When the opponent makes five substitutions while you only have one or two reliable replacements, the game changes. Pulat understands this and said it clearly. The recent match against Beşiktaş, even without a win, showed the team can stand firm when well organised. But football is not just one match. A season is a long journey, and with a thin squad, every away game is a test. Pulat must find ways to keep players fit and confident. The answer may come from promoting young players or using a more compact defensive strategy. Under public doubt, Pulat remains firm. He refuses to blame circumstances, but he does not hide real limits. This is expectation management from an experienced coach. He knows that if the team survives, everyone will remember the resilience. If they are relegated, today's warnings will become the basis for excuses. But right now, the only thing that can save the team is results on the pitch. Özhan Pulat's story is not only about a match or a transfer decision. It reflects the whole picture of a club struggling with a severe lack of resources. A €4 million budget is not small for many people, but in a league where big clubs spend many times more, that is a chasm. Pulat said exactly that. And he is trying to prove that this chasm is not the final boundary.