GUARDIANS GALAXY
Wily boss Terim has sparked Turk giants back to life thanks to talents of Falcao and Babel
WELCOME to Hell.
The infamous three- word greeting that makes a trip to face Galatasaray in the explosive enclaves of Istanbul about as appealing as a firewalking session at the height of the Turkish summer.
Yet for a club whose support like nothing more than to make life a misery for visiting teams, it’s fair to say Galatasaray have lived through their own footballing Hades in the past 12 months.
From a record-breaking 22nd title secured in May 2019 the Istanbul giants suffered a slump of biblical proportions last season – slipping to sixth and only just squeezing into the Europa League qualifiers.
All of which is music to the ears of the Rangers support ahead of tomorrow night’s Europa League playplay-off crunch at Ibrox. Not only has ththee winnewinne r - takes-all nature of the one-legged tie saved Steven Gerrard’s players from a mentally and physically physical ly draining 4500mile round trip to the banks of the Black Sea, it’s also removed any threat of the Turks’ ultrAslan group of hardcore fans making life a misery in the build-up to the tie. Not that Gerrard would ever be daft enough to think a third successive qualification for the lucrative group stage is in the bag. Despite their slump last time out, experienced boss Fatih Terim has steadied the ship. The goalless draw at home to fierce rivals FenerbahceF might not have set the heather on fire. But it was another marker that Gala’s powpowderpuff efforts of the last year aare firmly in the past. As symbolssym in The Eternal Rivalry go it hardly matched Graeme SoSouness risking all-out war by plaplanting a Gala flag in the heart of the Fenerbahce centre circle aafter the 1996 Turkish Cup Final. But accordinga to the expertsexperts, Terim’s side are back firing anda confident ahead of the trip to Glasgow. SupSuper Lig specialist GanaGanadei Ursanlilar said: “If RangeRangers think about trying to all outo attack Galatasaray then theyt will get destroyed. “ThThey will have to be patienpatient, defend well and then llook to attack because GGala will pick them off on the counter otherwise. “Gala have settled down after a turbulent year. They are very strong in defence. They have made two o f the be s t signings of the ssummer in goalkeeper
Fatih Ozturk who is every bit as good as regular keeper Fernando Muslera who is out injured with a double leg-break.
“Hard-tackling midfielder Peter Etebo is the other impressive signing. He was excellent in the Europa League win over Hajduk Split.
“Gala are very good on the counter-attack with Ryan Babel and Radamel Falcao playing just in behind a main striker they carry an obvious threat.
“Falcao enjoys the freedom and has so much experience at this level. He is still the main danger.”
Yet two decades on from their UEFA Cup and European Super Cup double, the slide of the one-time superpower can’t be underestimated.
Ursanlilar said: “Galatasaray have had a troublesome year and finished sixth for two main reasons. They suffered serious injuries throughout the campaign to key men including goalkeeper Muslera, Falcao and Babel.
“But they also had money problems in the background. Thanks to the sale of a huge area of land they now seem to be steady again and looking to build for the season ahead.” Much like on the park then. But while the threat is clear, Gerrard is rightly confident he has enough strength, ability and Euro know-how in his squad to quell the danger and impose his own successful game plan on the Turks.
Porto, Braga and Feyenoord have been put to the sword in Govan in the past 12 months while last week’s 4- 0 thumping of Dutch side Willem II across the North Sea is further evidence of a side with a ruthless streak in continental football.
Much has been said of the resolute Ibrox rearguard after a record-breaking start to the domestic campaign.
And that together with the explosive counterattacking ability of Ryan Kent, Ianis Hagi and possibly even Jordan Jones, after his eye-catching return against Motherwell, means Gerrard can again strike the balance between defence and attack that has served Gers so well in Europe.
The last time the sides met in 2000 Gala had just been crowned best in Europe while Dick Advocaat’s Rangers side were looking to make their own mark on the continent.
Both clubs might only dream of those lofty heights right now. But domestic and continental improvement is a must for both.
Gala boss Terim – the man at the helm when the UEFA Cup made its way to Istanbul – said as much after the draw with Fenerbahce: “The Europa League is very important to us in many ways and of course we will play our strongest team.
“At the moment, we are playing every three or four days and that can be a factor.
“But we just have to deal with it. It always hurts when you don’t win a derby game and we have a chance to put it right this week in Glasgow.”
The alternative for Terim and his men isn’t worth thinking about according to Ursanlilar who reckons failure to win tomorrow could see Gala’s season turn towards another form of hell.
He added: “It’s a very i mpor t a n t g ame for Galatasaray.
“They are used to reaching the groups and latter stages of European competition and the fans will expect as much again, even if they won’t be in Glasgow.”
It always when you hurts aderby don’twin we have gameand toputit a chance rightin Glasgo w FATIHTERIM