Demireli backs Leroy Sane: 'A wonderful person'

Galatasaray Development Director Fatih Demireli made statements to Kicker ahead of the UEFA Champions League match against Stuttgart. Demireli responded to criticism directed at Leroy Sane and stood by the German star.

Demireli said that players such as Leroy Sane or İlkay Gündoğan naturally attract more attention and that expectations for them are set much higher. He described how both players have continued training with great dedication, their morale has never dropped, and they have shown a professional attitude.

Speaking about Sane, Demireli said the player is in an intense and professional training routine every day, and that he believes Sane will be of great importance to the club. Saying that he should speak in Sane's favor on this matter, Demireli noted that he has known him as a wonderful person over the past year and a half.

Head coach Okan Buruk also answered a question about the reduced playing time of Gündoğan and Sane at the press conference before the Stuttgart match. Buruk said there is competition in the squad, that they can make changes depending on the state of the match and the opponent, that both players have worked very hard, and that he believes their contributions will be significant. It was also noted that Leroy Sane, who has played in 13 matches for Galatasaray this season, has not yet contributed to a goal.