Galatasaray boss names two Premier League teams he wants in next round of Champions League

Galatasaray boss Okan Buruk has revealed that he would like to play Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur in the next round of the Champions League.

Buruk joined talkSPORT on Wednesday afternoon following the Turkish giants’ huge first leg victory over Juventus.

Galatasaray tore into the visitors and claimed a stunning 5-2 win over Juventus.

Incredibly, they were 2-1 down at half time but once Noa Lang equalised in the 49th minute, RAMS Park came alive.

It’s already one of the greatest atmospheres in Europe, but it became even more intense once Lang’s goal went in.

And heading into the second leg, Galatasaray are in a commanding position.

Should they make it through, Liverpool or Spurs are potential options in the round of 16, and that is who Buruk wants.

Speaking exclusively on White and Jordan, the 52-year-old said: “I hope that we will pass this play-off and we will play against Tottenham or Liverpool, I don’t know.

“Last year, we played against Tottenham, we beat them 3-2, this year we played against Liverpool and we beat them 1-0.

“I hope one of them, I don’t know which one will come but we have good memories against these two teams.”

On the win itself, Buruk said: “It was a historic night for Galatasaray, the players and for me.

“I was a football player, played in Italy for Inter, where we were rivals with Juventus, it was always a hard game.

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“And last night to win 5-2… after the first half it was 1-2, the second was 4-0 to us, it was an amazing result for the first game.

“The Champions League is another level but to win against this level of team like Juve, it’s an amazing night for Turkish football.”

But there will be no resting on their laurels from Galatasaray during the second leg.

“We analysed very well about the opposite team, but the atmosphere of the stadium in Istanbul is a big experience.

“You have to be there and feel the atmosphere…it affects our game, we are defending together, we are attacking together and we had a great night.

“The players are always waiting for the Champions League games, they concentrate more than the Turkish league, all players, everything was perfect.

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“We have to start 0-0 in the second leg, we need to start without anything from the first game and beat them there.

“This was our first half, we will play our second half now.”

The danger man

In Osimhen, Galatasaray have one of Europe’s best strikers.

He played a huge role in Napoli winning Serie A in 2023 and he is the perfect combination of goalscoring instincts, physicality and intelligence.

He has six goals in the Champions League this season already, and whoever Galatasaray face, should they progress, will have to be careful.

Buruk is a huge admirer, adding: “He’s a team player, he’s not a striker just playing to score, he’s playing for his team.

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“He scores and makes assists, last night three goals started with him…he can play all of the league and he’s a great person and player.

“It was a dream for Galatasaray to bring him from Napoli, it was a dream for us. We paid £75m, the first time in Turkish history.

“That was also a dream…we spent all of our money for him!”