Okan Buruk promises an attacking approach against Barcelona

“We are Galatasaray and we do not care who we face,” Okan Buruk said ahead of the match against Barcelona in the Champions League. The Galatasaray coach says his side will not go into the game intending simply to absorb pressure, despite the strength of their opponent. Playing among the Turkish club’s supporters, he said, gives him the motivation needed to take on the title favourites.

Buruk said Barcelona may currently be the best team in the world in terms of its level, and recognised why many would regard it as favourite to win. But he said Galatasaray would approach the match with great confidence in its abilities.

“We are Galatasaray, and we will play at home; whatever team we put out, we have to be attacking. We will not just defend against Barcelona—we will attack as well,” he said. His message was clear: the opponent’s reputation would not change the ambition he expects from his team.

The coach also discussed the difficulty of managing players left out of matches. He acknowledged that being excluded could affect them psychologically, drawing on his own past as a player and stressing that football involves human emotions. Speaking about Gündoğan, he said players are not machines and that disappointment is understandable: Gündoğan did not play and did not come on after warming up along the touchline. Buruk nevertheless urged people not to read too much into such reactions. He also said İlkay worked hard in training, was ready to play and had his full satisfaction, while noting that the team had made attacking changes on Friday and could not bring on many players at once.

Buruk also praised the Russian Alexei Batrakov, aged 21, who joined Galatasaray from Lokomotiv Moscow last August for 25 million euros. He commended his professionalism and willingness to improve, adding that the player had adapted quickly to the team’s style and was making a satisfying contribution.