Idman.biz
Okan Buruk, the head coach of Turkish club "Galatasaray", appeared before the media at the II Louis Stadium ahead of the crucial match against "Monaco" in the VI round of the UEFA Champions League main stage.
İdman.Biz reports that Buruk admitted that the team has been facing serious difficulties recently due to both a tight match schedule and injury and penalty problems. The specialist emphasized that playing consecutive matches with the same players affects performance due to the lack of squad depth.
Okan Buruk stated that the meeting with "Monaco" will determine the team's fate in the Champions League:
"This is a very important match. I fully trust my players. Every point taken away is valuable, but our only thought is victory."
The coach noted that the opponent has made system changes in recent games and they have conducted corresponding analysis. According to Buruk, "Monaco" has quality players in its squad, and the defensive strength of the French representative requires special attention.
The team's injury problem has been the most concerning issue for Buruk in recent days. The coach stated that Jakobs is not fully ready after the injury, and Singo is being used in two positions, adding that they have been forced to play some players with pain:
"Perhaps these are the most difficult days in "Galatasaray". There are moments when you are completely helpless in the defense line. We don't even have players who can make changes in several areas. We play with the same players every four days. We cannot rest the players who need to rest. Jakobs, Berkan, and Yunus Akgün are playing with pain. We are taking risks because we have to."
The experienced coach also recalled the historic UEFA Cup won at the "Monaco" stadium in 2000, stating that this arena has a special meaning for "Galatasaray": "
Hopefully, we will have a joyful evening this time as we did that year."
