Analysis | Andy Brassell's bitesize European preview | Galatasaray
Wed 06 November 2024, 10:30|
Tottenham Hotspur
One of the voices of European football on talkSPORT and Sky Sports, well known for The Football Ramble podcast and a writer for The Guardian - and a regular contributor here at Spurs for almost 10 years - Andy Brassell will give us a short, sharp view on our opposition ahead of every UEFA Europa League match this season.
Next up, a trip to Istanbul to face Turkish Super Lig champions Galatasaray in MD4 on Thursday evening (5.45pm UK).
Galatasaray S.K (Turkey)
Manager - Okan Buruk
Domestic form - Top of Super Lig, unbeaten, nine wins and a draw in 10 matches
Europa League form - Beat PAOK 3-1, drew 2-2 at RFS, beat Elfsborg 4-3
Andy: "They have an amazing squad and they should be in the Champions League, no two ways about it (they lost 4-2 on aggregate to Young Boys in the play-off). That must be a huge disappointment for them. I was at the first leg against Young Boys, and they should have got something out of that (they lost 3-2) but Young Boys were better in the second leg, playing with less pressure. Galatasaray got through three qualifying rounds to reach the Champions League last season - they only needed to get through one this time around, but didn’t manage it. They were really good in the Champions League last season as well, great against Manchester United, twice, and they’ve built the squad since then. They’ve kept most of their players, although they sold Sacha Boey to Bayern, they signed Victor Osimhen (on loan from Napoli), still have players like Mauro Icardi, and they’ve got rid of players like Tete and Wilfried Zaha because they couldn't get into the team. You’re talking about a really talented squad of players and the coach, Okan Buruk, is excellent, cosmopolitan, spent a year at Inter as a player and a really interesting guy. Obviously, there is pressure on them to do well in this competition. They won the competition in 2000, beating Arsenal in the final, and the Europa League is a big deal for them. And in terms of an away game, it doesn’t get much more exciting in Europe. It’s such an amazing football experience to go there. I couldn’t recommend it enough."
