Our representative Galatasaray will face off against the English team Manchester United in the 2nd match of the UEFA Champions League Group A.
Before this critical match, yellow-reds coaches Okan Buruk and Wilfried Zaha made statements at the press conference.
HERE ARE OKAN BURUK’S STATEMENTS:
My players and we are ready. We want to continue our performance in the league here. We will face a very good team. Even though it seems unsuccessful in the eyes of people, Manchester United has a very good squad. We will do our best for the match.
We played a match two days ago. We didn’t have much working time. We did our tactical training in Istanbul and came here. We have opinions based on the opponent’s pros and cons. They don’t have an original left back. We have determined a plan and will try to implement it.
It will be an important match for Sacha Boey. We expect something not only defensively but also offensively. It will be a good challenge for him to be paired with Rashford.
We said our players would be ready as time went by. Wilfried is here, we couldn’t use Ndombele. Hakim Ziyech started but then stopped. We both compete and take the team’s performance upwards.
We care about the Champions League and I think we deserve it. We feel ready to play here with our cast. These are the most dangerous matches. No matter how good our opponent is, they will have a debut match on their home field. These types of matches may take you back mentally, but you can put in an extra performance to find a way out. I think if we can reflect our own performance on the field, we will create difficulties for our opponent. Our team is also very important and we will show our game in the best way possible to win.
No match is won without playing. You dream of getting out of the group by getting 18 points, but it doesn’t happen. All teams in the Champions League are important. We deserved to win the Copenhagen match, but we left with 1 point. Our next goal will always be to win. Anyone can beat anyone in the Champions League.
I watched the matches United played against Crystal Palace. In terms of gameplay, they were close to each other. Palace played at fullback in both matches. He lost very easily in one but won the other. We analyzed many matches. Our plan will also emerge on the field. Wilfried is the player who knows our opponent best. It will also make a positive contribution to us.
Galatasaray’s star Wilfried Zaha spoke at the press conference.
Here are the highlights from the football player’s statements:
There’s no need to say much. I have played for Manchester United before. Today, 10 years later, I am 30 years old. I came to Galatasaray. With the help of our coach, we have become a very experienced team. We also have quality players who can hurt them. We are all ready for this match together.
I prefer the left wing more, but I can play wherever my coach wants. No problem for me.
I have no regrets leaving Manchester United, I’ll be honest. Do you think I feel any discomfort when you look at my face? I fought for where I wanted to go and here I am today.
“You played here before with Crystal Palace, did this give you a different feeling?”
Wilfried Zaha: No. I didn’t feel anything. It was just a normal league game. When I played back then, of course I had a history here, but it was just a league game at Palace. I treated every match like a job.
“It was a 5-hour journey to England. Zaha looks tired, does she feel tired?
Wilfried Zaha: No!
You played many games at Old Trafford. Have you given any clue to your teammates about this?
Wilfried Zaha: No. Frankly, I didn’t. I don’t know if you have watched Galatasaray matches before, but the loudest noise you can hear is there. I don’t talk to my friends about United, I talk about what we will do.