Galatasaray boss Okan Buruk sets his sights on ANOTHER win over Man United in Turkey after guiding Istanbul Basaksehir to shock win in 2020 – and promises to ‘draw the fans in’
- Okan Buruk has beaten Man United twice before and is aiming for a hat-trick
- He hopes to ‘draw the fans into the game’ to create an advantage for his side
- Pressure is easing on Man United boss Erik ten Hag: Listen to It’s All Kicking Off
Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk is targeting another famous win against Manchester United that would end any hope of Erik ten Hag’s side reaching the Champions League knockout phase.
The Red Devils sit bottom of Group A with only Wednesday’s clash in Istanbul and next month’s Old Trafford encounter against already-qualified Bayern Munich to come.
Bruno Fernandes believes United need to win both matches to progress and knows that defeat in Turkey would end their knockout phase chances with a game to spare.
Galatasaray won the reverse fixture 3-2 at Old Trafford last month and head coach Buruk is now looking to beat the Premier League side on home turf, just as he did when managing Istanbul Basaksehir three years ago.
‘We are all very excited – the technical staff, our players, the Turkish people,’ said Buruk, whose Basaksehir side beat United 2-1 in the group stage in November 2020.
Okan Buruk has beaten Manchester United twice already with Galatasaray and Istanbul Basaksehir and hopes for more of the same
The Turkish boss aims to ‘draw the fans in’ as they hope to give Man United a ‘Welcome to Hell’ experience
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‘For Turkish football, these games are very important, especially promoting from the group stage. Winning these games is very important.
‘Of course we will have one more game but when we win this game, we will have a huge advantage.
‘In the last game, of course, our target will be to be promoted from the group stage.
‘Economically, sentimentally, this is a very important game for us.
‘Compared to the first game, we have seen that our opponent is developing and changing, especially in the league.
‘In their last six games they have won five, they are only six points behind the leaders. These are positive signs for them but we have been getting better.
‘Of course our target is to win. We are going to play against a very important team, but in our own stadium, with our fans, we have an amazing atmosphere.’
Galatasaray beat United 3-2 at Old Trafford and could knock out the Red Devils with a win
The atmosphere will be as tough as the opponent in Istanbul, where United endured a ‘Welcome to Hell’ experience away to Galatasaray in 1993.
‘Of course the fans supporting is very important when we are playing a home game,’ Buruk said. ‘In that sense, their support will be important.
‘But to get that support, the players on the pitch, our idea of the game is very important. We need to draw the fans into the game.
‘In the Bayern Munich game – in the first 45 minutes – we have done very well. The same way against Copenhagen.
‘Tomorrow’s game will be similar as well. We need to draw the fans in.’
Experienced goalkeeper Fernando Muslera was part of the Galatasaray side that beat United at home in the Champions League group stage in November 2012.
The Uruguay international was also between the sticks last month at Old Trafford and expects the Rams Park roar to help his side in the quest for victory.
Buruk’s Istanbul Basaksehir side recorded a hhistoric win over United in Turkey in 2020
‘I think it’s so hard to compare between every stadium (atmosphere),’ Muslera said.
‘The atmosphere you create in Old Trafford, Rams Park or the Allianz (Arena), they’re all different.
‘If you’ve never been here, tomorrow you will see and maybe you yourself can compare what you are living and what you live tomorrow in the stadium.
‘I always say that our fans are the number 12 player since a long time – and I believe in that.’
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