21.10.2026 19:30
Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk evaluated the opponent's game plan ahead of the Lille match. Drawing attention to the French team's transition attacks, Buruk said, "Our positioning when we have the ball is very important. Their biggest goal will be the transition play."
Galatasaray will face Lille away in matchday 3 of the UEFA Champions League. The yellow-reds' head coach Okan Buruk made statements before the match.
"THERE ARE CHANGES IN OUR OPPONENT"
Speaking about the opponent Lille, Okan Buruk said, "There are changes in our opponent. Actually, I had picked up that scent at Ancelotti's press conference. Giroud's situation, the young winger... There is a change at left-back in the starting 11, Verdonk is playing. Up front they have become a slightly faster team suitable for transitions. Will Haroldsson play on the left or in the center? We can see how the trio will play from their stance during warm-up."
"THEIR BIGGEST AIM IS TRANSITION PLAY"
Continuing his words, the experienced coach stated that Lille's biggest aim would be transition play, and said, "We are playing against an opponent with 3 midfielders who will be safe defensively and 3 players who will play transition attacks. Giving the correct response to this, our positioning when we have the ball is very important. Their biggest aim will be transition play."
"RUNS BEHIND THE DEFENSE ARE ONE OF THE AREAS WHERE WE WILL BE EFFECTIVE"
Continuing to talk about the game plan, Okan Buruk said, "We must play the possession game well. We have those feet. If we can also apply the right pressure when they have the ball, we are a team that can produce transitions; we saw this in the Arsenal match. If we can make the transitions correctly, there will be moments in which we can score. Runs behind the defense are one of the areas where we will be most effective."