Dursun Özbek reacts to Champions League draw results

Galatasaray's opponents for the 2026-2027 UEFA Champions League league phase have been confirmed following the official draw. The Istanbul giants will face Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Aston Villa, Sporting, Feyenoord, Lille, Stuttgart and AEK. Despite the challenging group, confidence remains high within the club.

Speaking after the draw, President Dursun Özbek said facing strong opponents is nothing new for Galatasaray, recalling that last season's group was similarly difficult. He stressed the club's determination to surpass its previous achievements this time around. Özbek also shared a lighthearted anecdote about meeting the PSG president in the lobby before the draw, joking that they would likely meet in Paris — a prediction that turned out to be true.

Özbek also spoke about Turkish football's standing in Europe, noting that the more Turkish clubs competing in the Champions League, the higher Turkey's brand value rises internationally. He expressed satisfaction that Fenerbahçe also qualified for the Champions League this season, and wished success to the other Turkish clubs competing in the Europa League and the Conference League.

Regarding transfer activity, the Galatasaray president explained that squad planning is not dictated by the draw, since the team is already being built with Champions League ambitions in mind, and that transfer work continues. He closed his remarks by calling on supporters to maintain the backing they have shown so far, expressing confidence that with fan support, Galatasaray will enjoy a successful campaign in both the Champions League and the Süper Lig.