Galatasaray S.K. manager Okan Buruk praised his team’s discipline after their narrow 1–0 victory over Liverpool F.C. in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash in Istanbul.
An early header from Mario Lemina proved decisive at RAMS Park, handing the Turkish champions a valuable advantage ahead of the return leg at Anfield.
Speaking after the match, Buruk praised the commitment of his players but warned that the tie is far from decided.
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“We fought hard for this result and the players showed great discipline,” the Galatasaray boss said. “But this is only the first half of the battle. Liverpool are a very strong team and the second leg will be difficult.”
Liverpool manager Arne Slot admitted his side were disappointed with the outcome but insisted the tie remains open heading into the return leg.
“It’s disappointing because you play football to win games and we didn’t do that,” Slot said after the match. “We had several good moments early in the game and chances to score. Instead, their first attack led to a corner and they took advantage of it.” 
The Dutch coach also stressed that his side created enough opportunities to take something from the match but failed to convert their chances.
“We had opportunities where we could have taken the lead. When you don’t take those chances at this level, you can get punished,” he added.
Despite the setback, Slot remains confident Liverpool can turn the tie around when the teams meet again at Anfield.
“We know how strong we are at home and the supporters will play a big role. The tie is not finished and we still believe we can qualify.”
With Galatasaray holding a slender advantage, the decisive second leg promises to be a tense encounter as both sides battle for a place in the Champions League quarterfinals.
