Galatasaray assistant coach: Barcelona are like a dentist, and we're happy Raphinha is absent
Barcelona the favourites to win the Champions League title
Ismael Garcia, Galatasaray's assistant coach, has said that playing against Barcelona is like going to the dentist.
Barcelona arrive in Istanbul tomorrow, Tuesday, as heavyweight visitors for the second round of the league phase of the UEFA Champions League.
Garcia told the newspaper Sport: "Playing against Barcelona is like going to the dentist. You know it is going to cause you pain, but you have to go and deal with it in the best possible way."
He added: "Osimhen? I am not going to give you standard phrases or lies. He is ready to play, and he is a player who makes a big difference for us. It is clear that he is able to take part."
On the matchup, he stressed: "Barcelona's style, which is characterised by aggression and pressing with the defensive line in the middle of the pitch, could make Osimhen the ideal striker to face that kind of defence."
The assistant noted: "Exploiting the spaces and setting off quickly and vertically towards goal in those situations is without doubt one of the most important keys to hurting Barcelona."
He explained: "The crowd's pressure on Barcelona? Playing at home is an added factor, but I feel that for us this factor goes beyond being merely an extra advantage. The atmosphere created in the stadium and the fans we have push the players to give more than 100% of their ability."
Garcia said: "Barcelona are the leading favourites to win the Champions League title. But, as is the case with all teams, they have weaknesses that we believe we are capable of exploiting in order to hurt them. I hope we succeed in doing that."
Then came the warning: "We respect Barcelona, but not to the point of fearing them, because we are Galatasaray and we have good players. And I am one of those people who prefer to focus on the value of the good things their own team has rather than being preoccupied with the opponents."
Two Barcelona names came up. He stated: "I would be delighted if Raphinha did not play against us, but he is performing brilliantly throughout the rest of the season. Against us, though, I would prefer he did not take part. As for Yamal, he is the most talented player in the world at the moment, but he can sometimes make a few lapses defensively. Perhaps we will be able to take advantage of that."
He concluded: "I think some things have already been said about Raphinha, and I agree with them completely. At the moment, I see him as the player at the highest level and, at the same time, he does not get the appreciation he deserves."
