Turkish football legend Tugay Kerimoğlu has given a direct warning to Galatasaray following their costly derby defeat to Trabzonspor.
Speaking as a pundit on NOW Spor, the former Galatasaray captain and midfield icon made it clear that the team’s championship ambitions now depend on an immediate response. According to Kerimoğlu, the upcoming away fixture against Göztepe is a must-win if the Lions hope to stay on course for the Süper Lig title.
“If Galatasaray wants to become champions, it has to win the Göztepe match to regain momentum and carry it through to the end of the season,” Kerimoğlu stated.
He highlighted the psychological and tactical difficulties of playing such a fixture right after a derby loss. Adding to the challenge, he pointed to a recurring weakness this season: Galatasaray’s poor away form.
“Playing these matches after a derby is never easy either; plus, it’s a fact that Galatasaray has an away game problem this season,” he said.
Kerimoğlu, who spent over a decade at Galatasaray and won six Süper Lig titles with the club, remains one of the most respected voices in Turkish football. “If the goal is the championship, you have to get to the point you want by winning,” he concluded.