Kartal's decision to leave the club came as a surprise to his players, including Archie Brown, who scored a crucial equaliser in the match. Brown was still on the pitch, speaking to the media, when he was told of Kartal's resignation. "How do you mean, he's resigned?" Brown asked, clearly taken aback. "Do you mean he's no longer the coach?" he was told. Brown confirmed that he had not known about Kartal's decision. "I had no idea," he stammered, visibly shocked.
Kartal's statement on Thursday was clear: "I'm stepping down now that there's still everything to play for, and I have no intention of ever returning." His decision to leave the club has left many in the Fenerbahçe camp stunned. The club's next move remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Kartal is no longer the coach of Fenerbahçe.