Galatasaray coach OkanBuruk has made it clear that his team will not limit itself to defense against Barcelona in the group stage of the Champions League. In an interview with journalist GabrielSans, Buruk stated that, although Barça is considered the best team in the world, Galatasaray will play “aggressively” and “attack” in their own stadium.
The meeting, scheduled for Tuesday at 9 p.m. at the AliSamiYen Stadium, follows the Turkish club's 3–1 loss to Sporting Lisbon. Buruk, who joined the club in 2022 and has won four Turkish leagues, is now seeking his fifth crown and wants to leave a mark in European competition with a high-level squad. “We are Galatasaray, we are going to play on our own field,” he declared, stressing that the team must be “aggressive” with any lineup the rival uses.
Regarding the situation of IlkayGündogan, who was substituted on Friday against Kasimpasa, Buruk showed confidence in the former Barcelona player. “Ilkay always offers the best performance in training and is ready waiting to play,” commented the coach. He clarified that the substitution does not reflect the player's assessment and highlighted the importance of maintaining the team's morale: "Players are not robots, they are people and we should not become obsessed with these issues."
The coach also praised the Russian playmaker AlekseyBatrakov, signed for 25 million euros from Lokomotiv Moscow. Buruk highlighted the speed with which the 21-year-old adapted to the Galatasaray game and his professional attitude. “He is a very good footballer, a good professional and a good person,” he said, adding that his effort and desire to improve are fundamental for the team.
With the group stage of the Champions League just beginning, Galatasaray is preparing for a decisive match against Barcelona. The coach has emphasized that the Turkish club will not only defend, but will seek to score goals and compete at the highest level. The result of this match will be crucial in determining Galatasaray's position in the group and their chance of advancing to the next phase of the tournament.