At Beşiktaş’s pre-season training ground in Austria, Beşiktaş’s veteran striker Nihat Kahveci described the team’s mood:

“Because of the national matches in USA, I joined the team a little late. Everyone is working their hearts out to make the team here. Despite the hidden competition, everyone is motivated and happy. They all know they’ll be treated fairly.
Our new Manager Schuster is an internationally proven coach. His resume shows that he’s been around with the top European teams, which have achieved great success under his coaching. I am confident; he is going to make us winning team again in no time. 
I did not have a very good last year, but my performance was on upward path in the latter part of the season. And I wish to maintain and build on it in the coming matches to come. I always look forward and never linger on past. As long as I stay healthy, I know I can contribute to this team.  With all these flashy transfers, we have raised the expectations of our fans, so we must make a good start into the new season.”   
Nihat Kahveci also weighed in on the transfers of Portuguese star Quaresma and German midfielder Roberto Hilbert:
“I was really excited when I heard the signing of Quresma because the whole world was talking about him before Ronaldo. If he played for another team instead of Barcelona, he would’ve been more famous now. He is great with the ball. You can easily call him a ball- magician if you like. With his play making, we’ll win a lot of crucial matches this season. Fans will sure enjoy his style. Having other Portuguese-speaking players on our team will help him adapt more easily. Neither Quaresma nor Hilbert will have any adaptation problems at Beşiktaş because we are like a big family here. If they need anything, all they have to do is just ask.   
 
This season every position has 3-4 candidates. It looks this competition will last until the end of the season. Every player should be in top shape and be ready at all times. In general, we are going to play an offensive football this year but keep our defence tight at the same time,” said the Turkish national.