20.05.2026 17:50
National player Barış Alper Yılmaz from Galatasaray, the champion of the Süper Lig, made important statements about the season. Admitting that he did not reach the goal he set for himself at the beginning of the season, Barış Alper said, "I set a goal for myself at the start of the season. Since the season is over, I can say this comfortably. Actually, the number in my mind was 30. Of course, I am upset that I couldn't reach it."
Galatasaray footballer Barış Alper Yılmaz said they are happy to have won the championship for the 4th consecutive time in the Trendyol Super League, and 26th time overall. The national player of the red-yellow team made statements to the AA correspondent about the season they won the Super League championship.
''WE WILL WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE 5TH TIME, INSHALLAH''
The 25-year-old footballer, stating that all stakeholders at the club played a role in the success they achieved, said, "We are happy to have become champions in the Super League. We have been champions for four consecutive years. We will become champions for the 5th time, inshallah. First, I thank my fellow footballers, then our president, technical team, managers, and staff. Because we shouldn't look at it as just the footballers. We need to include all the staff. They also have a huge contribution. They have always been with us. We became champions together as a family. We have been champions for 4 consecutive years, we are happy."
''OUR COACH FOLLOWED A VERY GOOD PATH IN THAT PROCESS''
Barış Alper said they got through the period with many injuries and suspensions until February thanks to the experience of head coach Okan Buruk, "We have very quality footballers. Injuries and suspensions are inevitable in football. Our coach makes a tactical analysis accordingly. Our coach is truly valuable, with great intelligence. That's why we are lucky. Our coach followed a very good path in that process. We didn't have a major injury. I don't think we had any trouble in the matches either."
''WE PREPARED OUR MENTALITY VERY WELL''
The star footballer said the following when reminded of the points lost in the Super League matches against Trabzonspor, Kocaelispor, and Samsunspor in the final part of the season:
"The Champions League level is very different. The focus there is different compared to the league. Playing a match every three days is not easy. We have very quality footballers, and there are certain areas the coach can influence on the pitch. During this period, we come to the forefront. When we talk among ourselves as footballers, we remind ourselves that we truly have the strength to achieve this and try to keep our morale at the highest level. Of course, it's not easy because you play a match every three days, you can get tired. You may not get much sleep either. Your training continues. It's not easy, but what mattered was the mentality. We prepared our mentality very well and got through those matches."
''I AM SORRY I COULDN'T REACH 30 GOAL CONTRIBUTIONS''
Barış Alper Yılmaz said he couldn't reach his target in goals and assists in official matches this season. Barış Alper, who played in 49 official matches in the red-yellow jersey, stated that he contributed to his team with 12 goals and 14 assists, saying, "I set a goal for myself at the start of the season. I can say this comfortably now that the season is over. Actually, the number in my mind was 30. Of course, I am sorry I couldn't reach that. But what matters is contributing to the team. Our club has goals, and we work as footballers to achieve them. We have already achieved most of them, so we are happy."
''I ALWAYS WANT MORE''
Barış Alper, who has scored 37 goals in 205 official matches in his Galatasaray career, stated, "I am never a footballer satisfied with these numbers of matches, goals, or assists. I always want more. I would have liked to produce more scores and play more matches. Inshallah, I will do better because I want it."
''WE MADE THEM FEEL WE ARE A CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LEVEL TEAM''
The national footballer said they performed well in the UEFA Champions League, where they competed in the Round of 16 this season. Stating that they have bigger goals in the Champions League next season, the red-yellow attacking player said, "We have very quality footballers. Our goals are very different. We planned to pass the Round of 16 in the Champions League as well, but it didn't happen. With the football we played this season, we made them feel we are a team at that level. Inshallah, in the new season, we want to go one step above that. We are not a team that will settle for this. We want more. It was a good experience for us, but it will not be enough for us; we will ask for more." Barış Alper Yılmaz said the match he enjoyed the most in the "League of Giants" this season was the Juventus match, which they won 5-2 at home. Barış Alper reminded that he scored a goal and made an assist in that match.
''WE ARE CHOSEN PLAYERS''
Barış Alper Yılmaz said all footballers playing for Galatasaray are chosen. The star footballer, emphasizing the contribution of Turkish players to the team's success, said, "If Galatasaray takes a player, that player is chosen. We are also chosen players. Galatasaray is a very big club. Every player in the team is selected with care. They are all very good. Our Turkish players are also very talented. We are very happy to be with them."
PLAYING WITH OSIMHEN AND PLAYING WITHOUT OSIMHEN
Galatasaray's national player stated that their performance was negatively affected in matches where Nigerian star Victor Osimhen did not get playing time. Barış Alper, noting that Osimhen is a very important footballer, said, "Of course, Osimhen changes our game plan a lot. But we also have to have a Plan B. Sometimes I might not be there, Osimhen might not be there. It's very normal for our performance to be affected when Osimhen is not there. He is truly a great player and a very good person. But we always have a Plan B. We have very talented players at Galatasaray. The players who come in also have to feel ready at all times. A chance to play can come at any moment."
GOAL CELEBRATION IN THE FENERBAHÇE DERBY
Barış Alper Yılmaz described his goal celebration in the derby where they defeated Fenerbahçe 3-0 in the 31st week of the Super League.
After the goal, Barış Alper took off his jersey and celebrated, saying, "I worked very hard to achieve this body. There is a huge effort from the past. Getting that body wasn't easy. I scored a goal against Fenerbahçe and did such a thing. Because I act with my feelings, something came over me at that moment, and I wanted to do it."
They secured the championship in the match against ...
After the match against Antalyaspor, when reminded of his lap with the ultrAslan flag on the field, the national footballer stated, 'Normally, I was going to do a full lap, but I couldn't make it. I was tired, honestly. I didn't think the flag was that heavy. After I gave it, people said, 'This flag is very heavy.' I had never noticed it was that heavy. In that moment, you don't know what you're doing out of joy. We became champions. We had been working for this for a year. We put in effort, stayed in hotels, traveled. It wasn't easy. I wanted to express that happiness in that way at that moment.'
'THE START OF THE SEASON WASN'T EASY FOR ME'
The red-yellow footballer also spoke about the problems that arose when a transfer offer he received at the beginning of the season was not accepted by Galatasaray. Barış Alper, who did not play in 2 matches during that period when the transfer did not happen, commented, 'Honestly, the start of the season wasn't easy for me. I always try to be a good person. I think my conscience needs to be clear. When I was little, I learned that problems should stay within the family. It wasn't easy for me, but now we have won the championship. I think these things can be discussed when the time comes. Since my conscience is clear, I don't think I experienced many problems.'
'I AM HAPPY AND EXCITED FOR THE WORLD CUP'
Barış Alper said he is happy and excited that the Turkish National Football Team has qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Reminding that Turkey is going to the World Cup after 24 years, the national footballer said, 'I am happy, honestly. The last time was in 2002. Of course, I don't remember it, but our family members tell me about it. I am happy and excited.'
'WE HAVE A VERY GOOD GENERATION'
Regarding the goals at the World Cup to be hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada, Barış Alper Yılmaz expressed his views, saying, 'Honestly, it's very early. We have a camp ahead. First, let's reunite with our friends, start our training. We will see how things go there. We have a very good generation. We have very talented players. We want to represent our country in the best way.'
'HE ALSO HAS A VERY NICE ENERGY'
Emphasizing that the star-and-crescent team has a good generation, the 25-year-old attacking player concluded his words by saying, 'I think we are very lucky; we have a good generation. We have very quality players. Everyone gets along very well with each other. There's a complete family atmosphere in the national team. All the successes we have achieved have come from this family environment. So we are happy. Our coach is also a very good person. He also has a very nice energy. He can convey this energy to the players very well. He has become one of us now.'