Dirk Kuyt insists that it will be a “special occasion” but he will have to park his emotions for Liverpool’s Champions League game against Fenerbahce in Istanbul.
Kuyt – who played for Liverpool between 2006 and 2012 and scored the winning penalty for the Reds in the 2007 Champions League semi-final – is now the interim Fenerbahce boss after Ismail Kartal resigned last week.
The former Dutch international played for Fenerbahce between 2012 and 2015 and won the Turkish Super Lig. He was Kartal’s assistant before stepping up to the role.
Asked about his feelings pre-match, Kuyt said: “It’s a really special achievement for Fenerbahce to be in the Champions League after 18 years and we’re really excited. When you reach that stage, you know you’ll be playing against very impressive teams.
“As soon as the draw was done, I was really excited because everyone knows how much Fenerbahce and Liverpool mean to me and from that moment, you know it will be a special occasion.
“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 and that’s what is important – to show the fans who deserve much more, a reaction, positive energy and a good performance.”
Fenerbahce have only won one of their last five games in all competitions and that includes a 6-0 defeat to Aston Villa in the Champions League last month. But Kuyt, 46, believes that his side can go toe-to-toe with Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool.
“We have really good players but we need to show up and when we show up tomorrow with good energy and passion, I think it will be a special night.
“Liverpool is an amazing team but so is Fenerbahce and if we and the fans can show up tomorrow, then Europe will really see how big Fenerbahce is.”
