Response from Giovanni van Bronckhorst to Besiktas regarding the derby!

Van Bronckhorst:

Sad news from Turkey: “When we landed, we received sad news from Turkey. Our hearts go out to those who lost their lives and their families… Our thoughts are with all the Turk people.”

• Lyon is very dangerous: “Lyon is a good team, very dangerous in their attacking transitions. We need to keep possession. You want to play these kinds of matches in Europe. As Besiktas, we want to perform well in this match and are here to achieve a good result.”
• Evaluating Ersin Destanoglu’s status: “We’re monitoring Mert Gunok’s situation day by day, and we hope he returns soon. We’ll see how Ersin Destanoglu reacts after training.”
• Derby focus after Lyon: “Derby matches are always special. I’ve played in many derbies as both a coach and player. My first derby with Besiktas was the Turk Super Cup against Galatasaray. We want to play a good match on Monday, but I always take it match by match. First, we focus on Lyon.”
• Similar approach to Lyon: “Our approach to the game is quite similar to Lyon’s. When we have possession, we want to make the most of it. They’ll approach the game with a similar philosophy. Lyon is playing at home, and we’re away. We’ve played these types of matches before, and we aim to keep possession and attack.”

Emirhan Topcu:

• Quick adaptation to Besiktas: “My adaptation to Besiktas was quick. I’ve played with many of these players before, so it didn’t take long for me to settle in. I’m incredibly happy at Besiktas, with the players and the coaching staff.”
• Gabriel Paulista’s injury: “Gabriel Paulista is injured, but I hope he returns soon. He’s a great player and has started training again. Whether I play or not doesn’t matter as long as the team is successful. Of course, I get upset when I don’t play, but I don’t show it. Hopefully, we’ll have success against Lyon and return to Istanbul on a high note.”