“We Can Handle Anything”: Galatasaray Assistant Fires Warning Shot at Man City Before Etihad Showdown
As Galatasaray get ready for a crucial Champions League trip to Manchester City on Wednesday, assistant manager Ismael Garcia Gomez has delivered a clear and defiant message: the Turkish champions are heading to the Etihad convinced they can live with — and overcome — anything the holders throw at them.
Speaking ahead of the clash, Okan Buruk’s right-hand man admitted that facing the tournament favourites on their own turf is one of the toughest assignments in European football, but insisted Galatasaray’s form, mentality and growing familiarity with English opposition give them every reason to believe in an upset.
“We know almost everyone will call us underdogs in this kind of game,” Gomez said. “Ninety-five percent of teams that play City are described that way. But we know our level. A draw would be a good result, of course, yet if we reach our maximum, we can handle anything. The group is very confident.”
From Anfield Shock to Etihad Test
Galatasaray have already shaken up the Premier League landscape this season by beating Liverpool, a result that reverberated around Europe and injected fresh belief into Buruk’s squad. However, Gomez was quick to underline that the encounter with Pep Guardiola’s side will present a very different type of challenge.
“Liverpool and City demand completely different things from you,” he explained. “When we met Liverpool in October, it was still early in the season, the rhythm was different and the context was not as decisive. Against City, their main priority is to control every phase of the game. That makes everything more complicated for the opponent.”
The assistant pointed out that the stakes have also increased dramatically. This is no longer just about a statement victory — it is about survival and progression in Europe’s elite competition.
“Now the pressure is higher,” Gomez continued. “We need three points to keep our chances of reaching the next round or at least securing a play-off spot. Every decision, every duel, every small mistake can be decisive. The margin for error against a team like City is almost zero.”
How Galatasaray Plan to Trouble Guardiola
Behind the bullish words lies a carefully considered game plan. Galatasaray’s staff have spent weeks dissecting City’s patterns and searching for the rare weaknesses in Guardiola’s machine. The goal is not to match City in sterile possession, but to use specific moments to tilt the balance.
“We know they will have the ball for long periods,” Gomez said. “You don’t beat City by dreaming of 60 percent possession. You beat them by being disciplined, by choosing the right moments to press, and by attacking with purpose when you win the ball. Transitions, set pieces, taking advantage of any disruption in their structure — those are key for us.”
Gomez also hinted that Galatasaray’s tactical flexibility could be one of their biggest weapons. The Turkish champions have switched between back-three and back-four systems throughout the season and are comfortable defending deep before springing fast, vertical attacks.
“We can adapt,” he noted. “We’ve shown we can defend low, press high, or mix both within the same game. Against Liverpool we had to suffer without the ball, but when the opportunity came, we were clinical. City will demand something else, maybe even more patience, but we are ready for different scenarios.”
The Sane and Gündoğan Effect: City Legends Return
A major storyline heading into the tie is the high-profile return of Leroy Sané and İlkay Gündoğan to Manchester. Both players enjoyed some of the best years of their careers in sky blue and arrive in Istanbul as marquee summer signings who have transformed the profile of Galatasaray’s squad.
“Sané and İlkay were massive acquisitions for us,” Gomez stressed. “Leroy was out of contract and wanted by so many big clubs. For the last five years he’s been among the top wide players in Europe. As for İlkay, there’s a reason Guardiola once called him the most intelligent player he has ever coached.”
For Galatasaray, the duo bring more than just quality on the pitch. Their intimate knowledge of Guardiola’s principles, training methods and in-game adaptations gives Buruk’s staff invaluable insight as they prepare for the Etihad.
“They understand the City environment in detail,” Gomez added. “They know how the stadium feels on a European night, how City react when they’re leading and when they’re under pressure. The experience they share in the dressing room is just as important as the goals, assists or control they provide in matches.”
Psychological Edge and Emotional Returns
The emotional element of Sané and Gündoğan stepping out again at the Etihad cannot be ignored. For City fans, these are familiar heroes returning in different colours; for the players themselves, it is a test of detachment and professionalism.
Gomez believes their experience will prevent any sentimental distractions from affecting Galatasaray’s focus.
“These are players who have won titles, played in finals, handled huge pressure games,” he said. “Of course, walking back into that stadium will bring memories, but they know how to separate emotion from performance. If anything, it might sharpen them. They will want to prove they still belong at that level.”
Within the Galatasaray squad, the presence of such established names has raised standards across the board. Younger players look to them for guidance in training and on matchdays, especially in unfamiliar environments like the Etihad.
“When you see how they prepare, how seriously they take details, others follow,” Gomez explained. “This is one of the biggest differences between teams that just participate in the Champions League and those who compete to go deep into the tournament.”
Why the Süper Lig Suits Premier League Talent
Gomez also addressed why players coming from England often adapt quickly and successfully to Turkish football. In his view, the Turkish Süper Lig is uniquely positioned as a bridge between the high-intensity, physical nature of the Premier League and the more tactical, possession-based styles seen elsewhere in Europe.
“Premier League players generally fit very well in the Süper Lig,” he said. “The league is extremely physical and dynamic. Players who are strong in duels, fast in transitions and comfortable in high-tempo matches thrive here.”
According to Gomez, that environment has allowed Sané and Gündoğan to immediately showcase their strengths.
“Sané is devastating in one-on-one situations,” he noted. “He loves space, he loves to attack defenders directly. In Turkey, the rhythm of games and the attacking mentality of many teams give him plenty of chances to do that. İlkay, meanwhile, gives us control and structure. He knows when to slow the game, when to speed it up, how to position himself to keep our shape.”
For neutral supporters, Gomez believes this mix produces some of the most entertaining football in Europe.
“I have friends across Europe who watch Turkish games regularly,” he said. “They love the intensity — the atmosphere in the stadiums, the physical battles, the emotional swings. For players coming from England, that passion and pace feel familiar, but the tactical nuances add a different kind of challenge.”
Galatasaray’s Recent European Growth
Galatasaray’s confidence is not built solely on one big result at Anfield. Over the past two seasons, Buruk’s team has gradually re-established itself as a serious European competitor, combining domestic dominance with measured progress on the continent.
The squad has been carefully upgraded with a blend of experienced internationals and younger, hungry talents. The club’s recruitment strategy has focused on players who are not only technically gifted but also used to the pressure of big occasions — a necessity for trips like the one to Manchester.
This evolution has changed the internal expectations. The aim is no longer just to qualify for the group stage and enjoy the occasion, but to compete consistently with the continent’s elite.
“Reaching the Champions League is not enough for a club of this size,” Gomez reflected. “The objective is to stay here, to reach the knockouts regularly, to build a team that can face anyone without fear. Matches against City are a test of where we really are on that path.”
City’s Injuries and Galatasaray’s Opportunity
Manchester City arrive at this fixture with notable absences, and that reality has not gone unnoticed in Istanbul. While Gomez refused to underestimate the depth of Guardiola’s squad, he admitted that injuries to key players slightly alter the tactical picture and open a narrow window of opportunity.
“City’s squad is full of top-level players,” he warned. “Even when they are missing important names, the replacements are usually internationals or rising stars. You can never relax just because they have injuries.”
However, a depleted City does force them to adjust certain patterns and combinations that have become automatic over years of working together. For a prepared opponent, this is a chance to disturb their rhythm.
“When a team like City is not at full strength, it can change their build-up, their pressing triggers, the way they attack the box,” Gomez explained. “Our job is to recognise those changes early and react quickly. If we read the game well, we can cause them problems they are not fully used to facing.”
Mentality: Underdogs Without Inferiority
Despite openly accepting the underdog label from the outside world, inside Galatasaray’s camp there is a deliberate refusal to adopt an inferiority complex. Gomez emphasised that respect for City will not cross into fear.
“We respect them enormously,” he said. “They have been the benchmark in Europe for several years. But we also respect ourselves. We are champions of our country; we have beaten big Premier League clubs; we have players who have won everything.”
The message to the squad is simple: embrace the difficulty of the occasion rather than hide from it.
“If you want to grow as a club and as a player, you need nights like this,” Gomez insisted. “You must go to stadiums like the Etihad and believe you can do something special. Even if the world expects City to win comfortably, our mindset must be different. We go there to compete, to suffer when we have to, and to take our chances.”
What a Result at the Etihad Would Mean
With City chasing a place in the last eight and Galatasaray battling for a play-off spot, the significance of Wednesday’s match goes far beyond three points. For the Turkish side, even a draw could transform their season and reinforce the feeling that they are building something sustainable at European level.
“A positive result would give us enormous momentum,” Gomez admitted. “Not just in terms of qualification, but in belief. It would show our players, our supporters, and maybe even future signings that Galatasaray can challenge the best teams, not only in our stadium but also away from home.”
He also underlined the symbolic value of potentially achieving another major result in England, after the win over Liverpool.
“English clubs are seen as the strongest in the world right now,” he said. “To get big results against them sends a message. It shows that our league, our club, and our project deserve respect.”
As the countdown to kickoff continues, one thing is clear: Galatasaray are not travelling to Manchester just to limit the damage. Armed with recent Premier League scalps, reinforced by former City heroes and buoyed by a growing European identity, “Cimbom” are convinced they have the tactical tools and mental resilience to turn the Etihad into the stage for another surprise — and they are not shy about saying so.