Uğurcan Çakır’s Fenerbahçe Derby Confession: “It Gave Us a Huge Moral Boost in the Title Race”
Galatasaray goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır has spoken about his first season at the club, the support he received from teammates, his confidence in coach Okan Buruk, and the ambitions he now shares with the team. In remarks on GS YouTube Katıl, the Turkish international said he believes Galatasaray can achieve even more in the UEFA Champions League and that the club’s success is built on strong work, unity and belief.
Çakır said he had always wanted to be a reliable goalkeeper for his teammates, especially after completing a high-profile transfer. He explained that he wanted to win the league in his first season and make sure his teammates could trust him when they looked back. He added that the transfer announcement video was the moment he began to feel truly connected to the club. Although the adjustment period brought some difficult moments, he said the squad performed well over the season and that the support of his teammates made the process easier.
He also credited the presence of several local players he already knew from the national team, saying that familiarity helped him adapt more quickly. Looking back on the campaign, Çakır emphasized that the team’s collective effort was important and that the season became stronger as it progressed.
On Okan Buruk, Çakır was highly complimentary. He said Buruk’s relationship with the players is at a very high level and argued that the coach deserves respect for winning four consecutive league titles. In his view, criticism after dropped points is normal in football, but Buruk’s achievements are not accidental. He said the coach’s success comes from his ability and leadership.
Çakır also pointed to the morale boost of the victory over Fenerbahçe, saying it was an important step in the championship race. He suggested that the win brought Galatasaray much closer to the title and reflected the confidence within the squad during the decisive months of the season.
Looking ahead, Çakır said his focus is on continuing to work hard and proving himself worthy of Galatasaray and its fans. His goals for the next season include helping Türkiye make the country proud at the World Cup, then winning more trophies with Galatasaray and going beyond last season’s Champions League level. He said the team’s target is not only to repeat success, but to go further on the European stage.
