Galatasaray eye spaces behind Flick’s high defensive line

Galatasaray’s assistant coach has warned Flick about the spaces that can open up behind his advanced defensive line. Speaking to Ràdio Barcelona, Ismael García discussed his team’s preparations and how he expects the match against FC Barcelona to unfold, describing them as favourites to win a sixth Champions League. He also credited his club’s sporting growth to its successes and financial strength, which attract football stars.

“FC Barcelona, for me, are the number one candidates this year to win the Champions League,” Ismael said. García also considers the Catalan club capable of competing for every title this season. Despite that status, he identified an opening Galatasaray could target: “They are a team whose defensive line and pressing are so high that sometimes they leave a lot of space in behind.”

The assistant coach said his side would look to attack more directly: “We’ll try to be a little more vertical than we usually are in the Turkish league because there aren’t as many spaces to run into.” The atmosphere is another factor. “The fans are very fiery, the country is very passionate, very emotional, for better and for worse,” he explained. Galatasaray can count on a loud home crowd capable of making matches there mentally demanding for opponents.

García trained as a technical analyst at clubs including RC Deportivo de la Coruña and RCD Mallorca. After assistant-coaching spells at Asteras Tripolis and Udinese, he joined Galatasaray in the same role.