DistantNews
Support us
Okan Buruk makes statement about players who will leave: 'Many players playing today...'
๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท Turkey /Sports

Okan Buruk makes statement about players who will leave: 'Many players playing today...'

From Cumhuriyet · () Turkish

Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • Galatasaray Technical Director Okan Buruk stated that many players from the recent friendly match will not be with the team next season.
  • The team is prioritizing increasing players' physical strength during the current training camp.
  • Buruk indicated that the team's starting lineup for the next friendly will include national team players.

Galatasaray Technical Director Okan Buruk has indicated that a significant number of players featured in a recent friendly match against Monza will not be part of the squad moving forward. Speaking after the match, Buruk emphasized that the team is currently in a preparatory phase, focusing on enhancing the physical conditioning of the players.

"We played a match with a majority of young players," Buruk stated. "We are going through a preparation period. Our priority is to increase the players' physical strength. Approximately 10 of our players are missing. We gave chances to other players and are shaping our squad. We are not happy with the result, of course. We will include national team players in the next friendly match. We will be here for another week. We will have a good training camp."

We played a match with a majority of young players. We are going through a preparation period. Our priority is to increase the players' physical strength. Approximately 10 of our players are missing. We gave chances to other players and are shaping our squad. We are not happy with the result, of course. We will include national team players in the next friendly match. We will be here for another week. We will have a good training camp.

โ€” Okan BurukDescribing the team's current situation and focus during the preparation period.

Buruk suggested that the lineup seen in the friendly against Monza is unlikely to be repeated in official matches. "Most likely, we will not field another match with such a starting eleven. Many players will not be with us," he explained. "It's not a match from which we can draw many conclusions. Playing with the full squad is a different matter. Many players playing today may not be with us or will get less playing time. Therefore, I see matches like these as matches we need to get through with minimal damage."

The coach also confirmed that national team players will feature in the upcoming friendly, signaling a shift towards a more complete squad as the team progresses through its training camp. The focus remains on building fitness and assessing the current roster before the competitive season begins.

Most likely, we will not field another match with such a starting eleven. Many players will not be with us. It's not a match from which we can draw many conclusions. Playing with the full squad is a different matter. Many players playing today may not be with us or will get less playing time. Therefore, I see matches like these as matches we need to get through with minimal damage.

โ€” Okan BurukExplaining the temporary nature of the lineup seen in the friendly match.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.