Okan Buruk: We Didn’t Play Well

Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk expressed his disappointment following their elimination from the UEFA Champions League after a 1-0 defeat against Switzerland’s Young Boys in the play-off round. Speaking at a post-match press conference, Buruk acknowledged that the team fell short of their goal to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League.

“We wanted to represent our country in the Champions League,” Buruk said. “Unfortunately, we did not achieve our objective. We are deeply disappointed as a club.”

Match Evaluation:

Buruk shared his thoughts on the team’s performance: “We played very slowly in the first half and struggled to move the ball forward despite having talented offensive players. We faced difficulties in building up play, and our opponents positioned themselves correctly against us. Even though we prepared for these scenarios in training, our speed and ball usage were poor.”

The coach also highlighted defensive issues: “We missed Davinson Sanchez in both matches and were unable to use Kaan Ayhan and Abdülkerim Bardakcı for one match each. This affected our ability to build play from the back.”

Looking Ahead:

Buruk thanked the fans for their support and emphasized the need to move forward: “We have the Süper Lig and the UEFA Europa League ahead. We will continue to set new goals. I believe in my players’ commitment and determination, and we will make at least two new transfers to strengthen our squad. We are disappointed to exit the Champions League, but we aim to succeed in the Europa League.”

Addressing Concentration Issues:

Buruk attributed poor performances in critical matches to a lack of concentration: “We have often struggled when we underestimated our opponents or felt too secure in our position. We need to prepare with greater focus, regardless of the opponent.”

Continuing Ambitions:

Despite the setback, Buruk remains optimistic about the team’s future: “We have big goals ahead, including our 25th league title, the 5th star, and success in Europe. Tonight’s outcome is disappointing, but we are determined to recover and push forward.”