Okan Buruk's striking words before the Bodo/Glimt match: No different from Liverpool

Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk spoke at a press conference ahead of their Bodo/Glimt match at RAMS Park in the third week of the UEFA Champions League. The accomplished manager was accompanied by Abdülkerim Bardakcı at the press conference. Here are some key points from those statements...

"WE SHOWED HOW MUCH WILL WE ARE WITH THE LIVERPOOL MATCH" "We didn't get the result we wanted in Frankfurt, but with the Liverpool match, we clearly demonstrated how ambitious and passionate we are in this championship. The way we played here with our fans, our concentration, our desire, and our focus on the match were all very high. It will be very valuable for us to reflect this on the pitch tomorrow and get another win to reach six points."

"THEY DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS ON REAL GRASS" "I haven't seen Norwegian teams have any problems when they play away on real grass."

"EVERY MATCH HAS A DIFFERENT STORY" "Every match, every team, has a different story. Last year, we not only beat Tottenham in the Europa League, we also won our first three home games. We care about our opponent. This match will be the same as the Liverpool match. They don't know the form of teams like Bodo because they don't follow them much. This match will be as important to us as the Liverpool match."

"WE HAVE A VERY STRONG SQUAD" "We have a very strong squad right now. It's very difficult for me to make a choice, too. I make very difficult decisions. Sometimes the decisions you make are psychologically challenging. Because every player wants to play. The players we bring in later from outside the starting eleven are also very important."

"EVERY MATCH IS IMPORTANT" "We won't advance to the next round with this match, but every match is important in the Champions League. If we get three points, it will be an advantage. It's not over by any means. We can see this match as a way to move up."

"İLKAY HAS BECOME AN IMPORTANT FIGURE" "İlkay Gündoğan adapted to us quickly. He's one of our players who has played the most matches, along with Leroy Sane. He made a significant effort to come to Galatasaray. His favorite team is one thing... Being here is very different for him. He's living his dream.

"We have very important players and characters. They took İlkay in very quickly. İlkay has become an important figure for us in such a short time. He didn't start the season with us, he didn't come prepared, but his performance improved as he played. We are very happy to have him here."

"WE NEED TO PLAY WELL" "I've been following Bodo Glimt since 2020. They're on their way up and reached the semi-finals of the Europa League last year. The atmosphere in our stadium will be very important.

To maintain this atmosphere, we must first play well. Fifty thousand people are waiting for us, and playing here is incredibly rewarding. This atmosphere can be challenging for some opponents, while others enjoy playing in such an environment. We'll see what happens in the match."

SINGO'S RETURN... "Wilfried Singo has at least two more weeks before he's back on the pitch."

ABDÜLKERİM: A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY "Being one of Galatasaray's captains is a huge responsibility. I will carry this with me everywhere. Two days ago was our coach's birthday. We promised our coach a victory, and God willing, that's how we'll give him the best gift."

"RIVALS SAY, 'THIS ATMOSPHERE IS UNLIKEABLE.'" "Everyone talks about our stadium as hell. We talk to our rivals, and they say, 'There's no such atmosphere.' Everyone who comes to our stadium is deeply impressed. İlkay and Sane make us feel incredibly comfortable on the pitch. İlkay's footballing mind and Sane's talent and intellect are very beneficial to us. We want to go as far as we can in the Champions League. We also want to go to the World Cup."