Excitement for the Champions League at Galatasaray
Galatasaray will play its first match in Group A of the UEFA Champions League against Copenhagen on Wednesday, September 20 at 7:45 p.m., according to statements by coach Okan Buruk and players Mauro Icardi and Dries Mertens on the official website of UEFA.
Okan Buruk stated that he dreams of playing in the Champions League: “I started playing for Galatasaray in the 1991/92 season and played my first game in the Champions League in the following years. My dream as a coach was to win the national championship for the first time after arriving at Galatasaray. “We always dreamed of winning the championship and playing in the Champions League next season,” he said.
“WHEN I LISTEN TO THE ANTHEM, I GET PULP”
Commenting on the Champions League music, Buruk said: “I get goosebumps when I hear the anthem. Seeing the stars on the ball excites me, even as a coach. And of course, the quality of the matches is incredibly high. The scenes are magnificent. The referees are incredible. The footballers are incredible. “Even when we say ‘Champions League,’ it really excites us,” he said.
“GALATASARAY IS A BRAND THAT FITS PERFECTLY TO THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE”
The experienced coach stated that Galatasaray is very suitable for the Champions League: “Galatasaray has many fans not only in Turkey but also abroad. In this sense, Galatasaray is a brand that suits the Champions League very well. In addition to this passion, of course we also have impatience; we want something immediately. This is one of the things that challenges us in Turkish football. May everything be fast, let’s always win. My football philosophy comes from my Galatasaray genes. During my years as a footballer I won 7 national championships, 1 UEFA Cup and 1 Super Cup. “I’ve always focused on winning and I’ve been a person who knows how to win,” he said.
MAURO ICARDI: OUR FIRST GOAL IS TO LEAVE THE GROUP
Argentine striker Mauro Icardi stated that his first objective is to advance to the next round: “Obviously, if we are in the Champions League, our first objective is to score as many points as possible and advance to the next round. When you believe in what you are doing and realize that you can achieve great things, then you can make it happen. In Argentina we love football, we can even say that for many people football is more important than family. We breathe football. What caught my attention here was the passion. Some people think that if you are in Turkey you are not at the elite level of Europe, so you feel more comfortable. On the contrary, in Türkiye the demand is high. They expect significant success from you. “This expectation motivates you to lead you to success,” he said.
Dries Mertens said in his statement: “What makes this club special? The passion of the fans, the passion of the club. It’s a great city to live in, with fans who are truly passionate about their club. “It’s a great stadium and a club that has really achieved a lot and is going through a difficult time because it hasn’t been champion for a few years,” he said. (DHA)