Okan Buruk makes statement regarding Icardi's injury

Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk answered questions from members of the press at the launch of the SPOINT Viva İskele Project held at a hotel in Istanbul. Expressing that the international break provided both rest and an opportunity to regroup, Buruk said, "Some of the players in the national teams played two matches, some played one. The players have returned and joined us. We rested some of them today. We did both recovery training and worked with some of them. We will have our final training session tomorrow and then head to Bodrum. As you know, Davinson Sanchez will not play because he is suspended.

Jakobs and Icardi will not be in the squad due to their injuries. Other than that, we have prepared with a full squad, and after our final preparation tomorrow, we are heading to the away game. Bodrum FK is a new team. They are one of the new teams in the league. In terms of the stadium, of course, we will be playing in a stadium different from the ones we are used to in the league. I don't know the pitch. I don't know what the pitch will be like, but the team we are facing will naturally try to do their best, especially against a team like us.

They have prepared with a focus on us. We will have our final training session tomorrow, and we will also do our final training based on our own game and our own formation, and then we will prepare for the match.

Our advantage in the league, our winning streak, and our winning streak away from home, we are heading towards records again in terms of the points we have earned. Therefore, we will do our best to win this match with a higher level of desire and concentration. After that, the AZ Alkmaar match awaits us on Thursday," he said.

"WE WANT TO WIN EVERY MATCH"

Stating that they take it one match at a time, the yellow-reds' manager said, "We did this last year as well. We finished it as champions with 102 points. We want to win every match this year too. Our opponents also take the field to beat us. This will be the case this week as well. Our opponent will be on the field to take points from us and beat us again. Every match is difficult; we have to prepare for every match in the best way possible. But our main goal is, of course, always to win our matches. We are focused only on winning matches. Then the records come. Of course, our players, our fans, and all of us have a huge share in this. We would like to continue this," he stated.

"SEASONAL ADVANTAGE"

Stating that he does not think playing at the Bodrum FK Stadium is a disadvantage, Okan Buruk said, "We will play on a grass pitch, and it is in a playable condition. We saw the last national match. There was a very bad pitch. It will not be a pitch like that. After we go there, we will try to get used to this environment, especially during the warm-up. There is nothing we can use as an excuse. We will just go out on the field and show our own strength and our own quality. Our opponent is also waiting for us. They are working on us. Playing on their own field is, of course, a bigger advantage, but where we are lucky is that we are going to the Bodrum away game in this season. We could have played there on a hotter day. Therefore, it is a seasonal advantage for us to play in this weather," he said.

"A CLEAR DECISION WILL BE MADE REGARDING ICARDI NEXT WEEK"

Speaking about the situation of Argentine footballer Mauro Icardi, Buruk said, "Both Dr. Yener and Icardi's agent are talking about this issue in general. A clear decision will be made regarding this next week. Regarding where he will have the surgery. Of course, the surgery is very important. Where it takes place is very important, but the subsequent rehabilitation is much more important. We want to organize everything in the most correct way.

We want his return to the pitch to be as soon as possible, but especially after the injury, it is necessary to wait 2-3 weeks for the surgery process. We are currently in the second week. We will complete the third week, and then, of course, a clear decision will be made regarding the surgery. What our doctor says is that, especially regarding how the process will go next summer and how it will continue, it is unknown, but a process of approximately 6-7 months is foreseen. Here, June and July, meaning the new season, look more clear and guaranteed.

It is also necessary to look at how this process, the treatment process, will go. The player's health is also very important. Rather than the player returning early, it is more important that he recovers well and returns in the most correct way and at the most correct time. Of course, we will miss Icardi. Being without him on the field will be difficult for the Galatasaray fans, for us, and for his teammates. We think that after getting through this process, he will prepare for the new season in the strongest way possible," he assessed.

Finally, when asked whether he would rotate the squad for the Bodrum FK match, Okan Buruk replied, "I am not thinking about rotation."