Galatasaray Manager Okan Buruk Details squad Health, Analyzes Union Saint-Gilloise Ahead of Crucial Match
Istanbul, Türkiye – November 24, 2023 – Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk provided an update on player injuries and outlined his team’s strategic approach to tomorrow’s critical match against Union Saint-Gilloise, speaking to beIN SPORTS Türkiye. The fixture carries meaningful weight as Galatasaray aims to secure a position within the top 24 teams in European competition, a key step toward advancing in continental play.
buruk emphasized the importance of securing a victory, stating, “If we win this match, we will take a very critically important step towards realizing our dreams.” He clarified the team’s tiered objectives: initially,to finish within the first 24; subsequently,to achieve a seeded position among the top 16; and ultimately,to reach the top 8. A win tomorrow would substantially advance Galatasaray toward achieving the first of these goals. Buruk stressed a game-by-game focus, stating, “We need to think match by match.”
The Galatasaray manager detailed his assessment of Union Saint-Gilloise, noting their tactical flexibility. He observed a contrast between their approach in the Belgian league, where they typically maintain 50% possession, and their Champions League strategy, where possession drops to 36%. He highlighted their recent shift to a 5-3-2 formation, prioritizing rapid counter-attacks after winning possession, notably utilizing two forwards capable of direct play and running. Buruk also pointed out vulnerabilities in their defense,noting they have conceded goals from transition play.
Addressing set-piece opportunities, Buruk acknowledged Union Saint-Gilloise’s strength in this area and confirmed the team is dedicating training time to improve their own defensive and offensive capabilities on restarts.”We were an effective team at set pieces last season.We are not at the same level now, but we will improve this,” he stated.He also noted the importance of the player taking the set pieces, mentioning Gabriel Sara as a capable option, while acknowledging that scoring from set pieces isn’t solely dependent on the kicker. he observed a high number of shots taken but a lower conversion rate to goals, citing instances where direct shots on goal were unsuccessful.
