Bafetimbi Gomis’ stunning comment on Fenerbahçe vs Galatasaray match: ‘It’s a difficult stadium to return with 3 points’

Galatasaray’s unforgettable striker Bafetimbi Gomis made statements to beIN Sports ahead of the Fenerbahçe-Galatasaray derby. Bafetimbi Gomis made some remarkable statements about Galatasaray Technical Director Okan Buruk.

Here are Gomis’ words:

– How do you find Galatasaray’s performance?

“It is always difficult to play for Galatasaray. It is a big club and has a big history. Especially this year it is not easy. They have bought many new players and it takes time to build the new energy. They need to get to know each other. But they are still doing very well because they are still at the top of the league. They performed very well in the Champions League. Everything is clear. I think Galatasaray has been doing very well for the last three years. They have been champions three seasons in a row. Of course we have a big fan base. They always want more. But it will take time for Galatasaray to find success in Europe again.”

– From your perspective, what has changed the most about Galatasaray’s identity since Okan Buruk took over? And how far do you think Galatasaray can go in the Champions League this season?

“The Champions League is a high-level arena and you have to be patient. But Galatasaray have a team and the right coach who can reach the final or semi-finals. At this level everything is in the small details. We saw how the team improved after the first game in Frankfurt and they performed very well. I think Galatasaray can beat Monaco. I will be there to support them. I trust Okan Burak because he has a lot of experience. One thing I learned in Turkey is that people are very emotional. It is difficult to be the coach of this club because after a bad result there are a lot of comments. But Okan Buruk is a strong person, he is the son of Galatasaray. He took charge of Galatasaray three years ago. I was in that team and I can tell you how the team and the Galatasaray brand has developed with him, his team and Dursun Özbek.”

-What do you think is the biggest difference since you left the team? What has Okan Buruk changed the most in the team? Compared to your period…

“When Okan Buruk came, the team needed a lot of transfers. He started to rebuild the team. But he also started to build the team spirit. Before, many players didn’t know how big a club Galatasaray was. Okan Buruk, with his background, with his Galatasaray story, he brought experienced players like Mertens and Torreira who fit the project. And this season, a transfer that I never even dreamed of happened: Osimhen. Galatasaray showed this. This is also a big thing for the Galatasaray brand, because the coach, the president and the vice-president made the right moves for the performance on the pitch and for the brand. After this transfer, the whole world realized that Galatasaray is one of the biggest clubs in Europe.”

-Then let’s talk about the derby. And let’s come to a point you mentioned. There are so many star players in the squad. Osimhen, Ilkay Gundogan, Leroy Sane, Icardi and many more… Who do you think is having the biggest impact on the team right now?

“What feeds a team is the great contribution of Osimhen and Icardi, especially as strikers. But a great team also has defense and midfield. Jakobs, Torreira… Everyone has a role. That’s what it means to be a team. And this is the reality of big teams in Turkey. Sometimes there are teams with great players but they cannot be a team. Because there is individual talent. Okan Buruk’s most important task is to turn these individual talents into a team that serves Galatasaray and the community. And to get good results together. If you look at the success story of Galatasaray, Okan Hodja may not have been the biggest star as a player, but he was a great talent who served the club. Okan Buruk is trying to do the same today. I talk to him, he starts at 7 or 8 in the morning and works until 10 in the evening. Sometimes he has to sleep at the facility. Because he wants to make Galatasaray happy and fulfill dreams. Yes, we can see how much he gives to the team. This is very clear. And I think that spirit you mentioned is Galatasaray’s biggest strength.”

-When you look at the current Galatasaray and Fenerbahce squads, what do you think will make the difference in the derby? Is it physical strength, individual quality or mental toughness?

“Experience for Galatasaray. Yes, experience. Because Galatasaray has a big story with this team in the Champions League. They have played so many games together. Because Okan Buruk built this team in three years and the players know each other very well. For example, the captain Abdülkerim has been here for three years and he has helped the team a lot with his experience in these kind of matches. Derbies are very special matches. When you have two players like Icardi and Osimhen at the same time… Osimhen can have a bad day and if Icardi comes in from the bench, it’s a very big team. But you have to respect Fenerbahce because they are also a very big club. They recently changed their president. I’m not saying that Ali Koç is a bad president, he’s a great person. I have great respect for him. But you know, when the manager changes, when the president changes, there is a new energy. The fans believe again. I know Kadikoy is a difficult stadium to return to Kemerburgaz with 3 points. It will be a tough match. And Fenerbahçe is a big team with very special talents.”

-You mentioned the atmosphere in Kadikoy. The atmosphere in Kadikoy is known as one of the most impressive in the world. You have experienced it before. So I want to ask: How does this atmosphere affect the players mentally and physically?

“This is not only specific to Kadikoy. This is Turkish football itself. Turkey is a football country. I had a lot of experience in this league. For example, when I played in Bursa, Trabzon, the atmosphere was perfect. But derbies are the biggest matches in Turkey. This match is watched not only in Istanbul but all over the world. When I talked to many players during my football career, they all asked me this: “How is the derby? How is the Galatasaray – Fenerbahçe derby?” This atmosphere has a big impact on the players. Sometimes the atmosphere is so high that players get so stressed that they can’t play at their level. Normally yes, but now it’s a bit different. Galatasaray is the leader. Fenerbahçe is second. The difference is only one point. The impact of this derby will be huge. The result of the derby will change a lot.”

-Bafe, Galatasaray are also missing a lot of players. How do you think this will affect the derby? Especially Kazimcan at left back and there seems to be problems at right back. How will this affect the team?

“The best way to win a derby is to play with heart. Not the names. It’s not the names, it’s the team. The team that wants to win the derby the most wins. At Galatasaray, especially Okan Buruk trusts every player. If he doesn’t trust a player anymore, if he really doesn’t trust a player, that player is no longer in the squad. Okan always says this at the beginning of the season: I trust everyone. Everyone in this dressing room is very important. You can never win a championship with 11 players. And he showed that. Players like Baris came from the bottom and became one of the most important parts of the team. Yunus had a difficult time in Leicester but he came back and improved. That was part of his development. He just needed to be patient and trust Okan Buruk. And now Okan Buruk gives him confidence. I am proud to see him as captain. Kazimcan will be in the derby but I believe Okan Buruk trusts him. If he performs well, he will stay in the squad and become champion. Maybe he will even play in the Monaco match. This is the quality of Okan Hoca.”

-If you could give one piece of advice to Galatasaray players, especially those who will be playing for the first time in this big derby, what would it be?

“To play like a Galatasaray player, to play from the heart, to make the fans proud. I was happy to be part of that team in the early years of Okan Buruk, I saw how he prepared for the games, how he made a big impact at the start, because he wanted the players to have the Galatasaray spirit. He wanted them to always be proud to play for this big club. And the relationship with the fans… We can see that. When I came back to Galatasaray after playing in Saudi Arabia for three years, the relationship with the fans was difficult. It was really difficult that season, but Okan Buruk came and built a very good bond with the fans. The fans always followed the team and believed that success would come. And this came true. Okan Buruk was the coach who had a very comfortable win in Kadikoy. If I’m not mistaken, the score was 3-0. He has experience in such matches. I trust him. Now they are playing Champions League, the team will be tired. But as I said, derbies are played with heart. Yes, yes, yes. When Okan Buruk took office, the team was 13th. So he made a huge difference. That’s for sure.”

-As a top scorer in this league, how do you evaluate the strikers of both teams? Because both teams have really important players.

“I want to say this, we already know that Osimhen and Icardi are two of the biggest players in Europe. But Fenerbahce is also a very big club. Since I was a kid I’ve seen great players in Fenerbahce, like in Galatasaray, Alex, Mamadou Niang, Moussa Sow… It is a club that has always had great players. This league needs a Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe rivalry. That’s why the match will be difficult. There are very big players, the squads are very talented. Not only the forwards. Fenerbahçe has very talented players. And maybe in this match, maybe other players will score the goal, not the strikers. Maybe Baris will score, maybe Sane, maybe Torreira. For Fenerbahce, set-pieces can be a big threat. In these kinds of games you have to think about every detail. Maybe the game will be very close and the goal will come from a set-piece. That’s why high concentration is essential. You need to start the game very well.”

-I have to ask you this… Who do you think is the biggest threat to Galatasaray from the Fenerbahçe side?

“The new energy. Yes, new energy. Because since the president changed, the Fenerbahce community has a new energy. And that can be a threat for Galatasaray because there’s this idea that ‘we’ve changed, now we can look Galatasaray in the eye’. And they have a great desire to win the title after many years.”

-Bafe When you think back to your time at Galatasaray, what is the first memory that comes to mind and what still gives you goosebumps?

“My first goal… Because the atmosphere was crazy. I had a hard time in the preparation period, it took time to reach my level. But I scored in the first game and the penalty in Göztepe… The penalty that made us champions… It was one of the biggest moments of my career. Being champion with Galatasaray… The love I received from Galatasaray and Turkey was incredible. I was very happy to live in Turkey. I was proud to play for this club.”

-If you could give one piece of advice to Galatasaray players before such a big derby, what would it be?

“To play like a lion. To play like a lion and go on the pitch with confidence. Because we trust them. And I know they will not let us down. We are going there as league leaders and we have to play like leaders. I trust all the players, the technical team will find the right plan. And they will come back from Kadikoy with three points and make millions of fans happy.”

-Let’s imagine you are managing a team right now and you have the right to choose two players. One from Galatasaray and one from Fenerbahçe… Who would these two players be? I am really curious.

“There is a great talent in Fenerbahce. I have a hard time naming him… The Moroccan striker, I like him a lot. En-Nesyri. Yes, that’s him. He’s a very effective player in the center. He scores a lot of goals, but sometimes he had a hard time at Fenerbahçe. I like him. As for Galatasaray… There are great talents but I’ll take Osimhen.”

-Isn’t he a game-changer?

“Yes. Sometimes even if he doesn’t score, the way he plays, the way he presses… He can single-handedly keep four defenders busy. I think he is one of the greatest strikers in the world. And it’s a great chance to see him at Galatasaray.”