Galatasaray boss criticizes his players for focusing too much on Liverpool tie

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Liverpool faces Galatasaray in the Champions League this week, and Galatasaray boss Okan Buruk has criticized his players in the buildup to the last-16 encounter

Okan Buruk criticized his players after Galatasaray's win over Besiktas(Image: Yagiz Gurtug/NurPhoto)

Galatasaray's manager was critical of his players for looking too far into the future, ahead of the Turkish side's meeting with Liverpool.

Galatasaray was in Super Lig action against local rival Besiktas on Saturday, claiming a narrow win despite ending the game with 10 men following Leroy Sane's dismissal. After the game, which was settled by a single Victor Osimhen strike, Gala boss Okan Buruk said that his players had been too preoccupied with the Champions League last-16 first leg against Liverpool, which takes place on Tuesday - without any away fans at Anfield.

"They were all talking about the Liverpool match before the derby game against Besiktas which was a very important match in its own right," Buruk said. "Besiktas had claimed some good results against us so it was too early to think about Liverpool, we had to think about the league match first.

"The Liverpool match was one to think about after we'd got through the derby because we knew a victory in that game would mean we're much better prepared for Tuesday."

Liverpool has already faced Galatasaray this season, having traveled to the Ali Sami Yen Stadium during the league phase back in September.

It was a miserable evening for the Reds on that occasion, as Vicor Osimhen's penalty secured a 1-0 win in a game that also saw Alisson pick up an injury that would rule him out for several games.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is looking forward to returning to Turkey as the Reds continue their pursuit of a seventh European Cup.

Liverpool was beaten by Galatasaray earlier in the season(Image: Getty Images)

"To get silverware is always our aim," Van Dijk said after Liverpool's FA Cup win over Wolves on Friday.

"I've been very privileged to experience so many good nights and winning silverware with this beautiful club and that's what we aim for.

"But this season obviously has been very difficult for a lot of reasons and I said it from day one that it was going to be a very difficult season.

"But we're here now, we've made progress, but obviously now and then we are also not doing well and that's what we have to take in our process.

"That's what we did [at Wolves], we played well, we won and [it is] on to the next game. Now it's Champions League where we will focus on a very difficult game where our ears will be tested as well again.

"But it's nice. It's an absolute blessing to be out there again and hopefully we can get a good result there."