22.07.2025 22:10
The defender of Gaziantep FK, Semih Güler, made statements before the new season. The experienced defender, who confessed to having role models, said, "There are many players I look up to, but my idol has always been Sergio Ramos. Whether it's his toughness in the game or the goals he scores, I have always looked up to Sergio Ramos."
Gaziantep FK, one of the teams in the Süper Lig, is conducting its second stage of training camp at the Erciyes High Altitude Camp Center in Kayseri, which is located at an altitude of 1,850 meters, as part of its preparations for the new season. Semih Güler, a 30-year-old defender of the red-black team, made special statements to Demirören News Agency (DHA) about the camp activities.
'A GOOD ENVIRONMENT, INTENSE TRAINING SESSIONS'
Güler stated that they have been welcomed very well in Kayseri, saying, "Everyone is trying to take care of us. There is a very nice reception and hospitality. That's why I thank them. As you know, we were in Serbia for camp. We camped there for 12-13 days. After seeing abroad, coming back to Turkey feels even better. It is more beautiful for us to have a camp in our country. We are working hard. We have to, our first match is a tough one. We will start with the Galatasaray match. Our new coach has arrived. New players have also joined us. I am also relatively new. I joined the team during the mid-season last year. There is a good environment, and there are intense training sessions. This is the beauty of the camp. In the evenings, we all drink tea together. Some play okey and backgammon. It is going efficiently," he expressed.
'I WANT TO BE PART OF THE A NATIONAL TEAM'
Semih Güler also mentioned that he dreams of participating in the 2026 World Cup with the A National Team, saying, "There is a saying that I really liked: 'Have such big dreams that you should be afraid of them when you say them.' That's why I played in Europe with Adana Demirspor. I want to experience this with Gaziantep FK as well. After that, if it happens in 2026, I want to be part of the A National Team's squad. This is my dream. I hope I can achieve both this year. I hope it will be a beautiful season. Not just for me, but for all of Turkey, I hope it will be a beautiful season. I hope everyone stays away from injuries. I hope we have a season where we only talk about football, away from the issues of past years," he said.
'YOU GET MORE MOTIVATED AGAINST BIG TEAMS'
When reminded that they will start the season with the Galatasaray match, Semih Güler said, "Whether it's Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, or Beşiktaş, when big teams come to Gaziantep, people get even more motivated. After all, these teams spend a lot of money. Anatolian teams are a bit more modest in this regard. It feels good to compare yourself with the best players in the world. Sometimes fans and commentators get upset, saying, 'Why are the players playing with so much desire?' But in the end, whether it's Osimhen or Dzeko, you might play against them once or twice in your life, and you see your own level. That's why I think it's a nice start to play against such a big team. Maybe Galatasaray won't be fully ready, and maybe we will catch a bad moment. With the momentum from last year, we won't easily give points to our opponents at home. We want to leave with 3 points," he expressed.
'I LOOK UP TO SERGIO RAMOS'
Güler stated that he looks up to Sergio Ramos in terms of playing style, saying, "There are many players I look up to, but my idol has always been Sergio Ramos. Whether it's his toughness in the game or the goals he scores, I have always looked up to Sergio Ramos. I wish everyone a fruitful new season. I hope we finish this season where we want to. For the last two seasons, we haven't been able to finish where we wanted. Even though we were a bit relaxed last year, I believe Gaziantep should always be in the top 10. This year, I hope we can play in Europe with a strong crowd and squad together. We expect our fans at every match, and we will do everything we can for them in every match," he concluded.