26.02.2026 11:12
Galatasaray lost 3-2 to Juventus in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 playoff. However, the yellow-reds, who won the first match 5-2, advanced to the Round of 16 with an aggregate score of 7-5. In a post-match statement, Okan Buruk said that Yunus Akgün did not want to play due to his pains.
Galatasaray lost 3-2 to Juventus in the away match of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 playoff second leg after extra time. The yellow-reds, who won the first match 5-2, secured their place in the Round of 16 with a total advantage of 7-5.
"WE HAD A BAD NIGHT IN TERMS OF SCORE AND PERFORMANCE"
After the match, head coach Okan Buruk stated that they were happy to advance to the next round but were not satisfied with the performance. Buruk said, "We are happy to have reached the Round of 16, but we had a bad night in terms of score and performance. This match was a lesson for us. Today, Juventus was better than us and deserved to win," he expressed.
"YUNUS DID NOT WANT TO PLAY DUE TO PAINS"
Buruk also made a notable confession regarding his squad choices. The experienced coach, who wanted to take precautions against Juventus's wingers, said, "Sallai had received a yellow card, I was worried about his condition. I wanted to use Yunus Akgün, but he had pains and did not want to play," he stated.
"ELIMINATING A TEAM LIKE JUVENTUS IS VERY IMPORTANT"
Emphasizing that performances can vary from match to match, Buruk pointed out the game in the first match, saying, "If you watched the match where we beat Juventus 5-2, you would say 'This team goes to the final,' but if you watch this match, you would say 'They can't go.' But eliminating a team like Juventus is very important," he said. Galatasaray's opponent in the Round of 16 will be determined after the draw.