A media day was held for Galatasaray MCT Technic Men's Basketball Team, which will represent Turkey in the FIBA Basketball Champions League this season.
At the media day held at Sinan Erdem Sports Hall, Galatasaray Head Coach Gianmarco Pozzecco, one of the new transfers Chimezie Metu and Can Korkmaz, one of the experienced players of the team, made statements to the press.
Stating that he thinks the strongest league in Europe is the Turkish League, head coach Pozzecco said, "My family also came to Istanbul. That's why I have a good feeling. Especially my wife loved the country and the people very much. We have established a very competitive team as a club. We need a little more time because we have changed a lot in the team. We only keep Buğra, Can and Jerome in our squad from last season. For this reason, since everything is new, we will stay together, play together and be very competitive. In this context, Hidayet is also "I also congratulate Türkoğlu, because I think the strongest league in Europe is the Turkish League," he said.
"I WANT TO WIN EVERYTHING"
Stating that he wants to win all the cups with the yellow-red team, Pozzecco said, "Actually, I think it is important to always do the best, I can say this about it. You have to win when you go on the field. You have to achieve your dream and realize your dream. Of course, I want to win the Basketball Champions League and be at a certain point in the Turkish League. We have built a great team, we are very competitive. Of course, there is pressure on me. In fact, I want to win everything, yes. But of course, this is not because we are better than everyone else, but because I have such an approach in my life. Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe, Efes, Bahçeşehir will be very competitive, but I am extremely optimistic,” he said.
"OUR BIGGEST GOAL IS TO DRAW OUR FANS TO THE HALL"
Stating that their biggest goal is to attract the yellow-red fans to the hall, the Italian head coach said, "Actually, I think the key to the success of the season is the attendance of the audience and our fans. I believe that we will be very dangerous with something that only our spectators, only our own fans, can do. Of course, it is difficult to convince people to come, but I have watched one or two videos of games played with a full hall and I think this can only happen in one or two places in Europe. Last year, due to some of the results we got, we could not bring people, our fans. But our biggest goal is as a team, from the beginning to the end. "To attract our fans to the hall," he said.
Stating that he showed his love to his players by hugging them and that he will continue this season, Pozzecco continued his words as follows:
"Actually, people ask me this. Now, every coach's approach is different, but since I have a tendency to hug people and show love to people, I wanted to hug my players when I became a coach. I will continue this this season, because it is in my character."
"WE ARE WAITING FOR ALL OUR FANS"
Reminding that they will use Sinan Erdem Sports Hall this season, the experienced head coach concluded his words as follows:
"Actually, switching to Sinan Erdem did not change much for me. Because I was going to the Basketball Development Center in 15 minutes. I live in Fişekhane, so it is right in the middle for me. Of course, I can go to both of them. We are expecting all our fans in the same way this year. Because we cannot progress like this without them."
CHIMEZIE METU: WE HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR THIS SEASON
Stating that he was very happy to be transferred to the yellow-red team, Chimezie Metu said, "First of all, Galatasaray is a very big club. Everyone knows it and it is extremely well-known all over the world. That is why it is a great opportunity for me to be transferred to Galatasaray; to carry its colors, to wear the colors on my jersey... I am very excited, along with Galatasaray's fans, to be transferred to this club. We have great hopes for this season, I believe it will be very good."
"OSIMHEN WAS EFFECTIVE IN ME COME"
Stating that he met with Victor Osimhen before his transfer, Metu said, "I talked to Osimhen, but it was not like convincing me to come, in fact, he told me how great the club was and his own thoughts. Of course, I made my own decision at the end of the day because he also said very nice things. But it was a very good speech for me and it was really effective in me coming."
CAN KORKMAZ: WE HAD A GOOD PREPARATION PERIOD
Stating that they had a good preparation period, Can Korkmaz said, "We have become a new team. We are still in the process of getting used to each other, but we had a good preparation period. I hope that we can start the season with victories in the best possible way and accelerate this process of getting used to each other."
"WE HAVE A TARGET OF THE FINAL FOUR"
Pointing out that they aim for the final four in the Basketball Champions League, the experienced basketball player said:
"Our goal is to reach the final four, and after that, the final and the cup, respectively. I think we have a sufficient squad for this. I hope, as I said, that we can get through the adaptation process as quickly as possible, play the best basketball that truly suits Galatasaray, and go all the way."
"THIS YEAR, TOO, PLAYERS WITH MORE NAMES AND CAREERS WERE RECOGNIZED"
Stating that there were very valuable names in the squad last season, but this season, more career players arrived, Korkmaz concluded his words as follows:
"Last year's players were also very valuable players. This year, especially players with more names and careers were chosen. I hope that their process of getting used to us and us getting used to them will be faster, and I think they will achieve their goals, which we all aim for together, first as a team and with our personal goals."
