Hundreds of Galatasaray fans travelled to Liverpool and lit up the streets with flares and rockets despite UEFA banning the Turkish club from selling away tickets for the Champions League clash at Anfield
Galatasaray supporters took over the streets of Liverpool despite UEFA banning their fans from attending the Champions League clash at Anfield.
No Turkish followers are meant to be present at the match, with Galatasaray prevented from selling tickets for the away end. But this didn’t deter the famously fanatical followers of the Istanbul-based club flocking to the north west of England in their hundreds and illuminating Liverpool’s roads with a spectacular fireworks exhibition.
They have travelled to spur their team on to a famous round of 16 victory after claiming a 1-0 first leg success at home last Tuesday evening.
Supporters were captured marching through the streets brandishing flares before hundreds of rockets were launched into the twilight sky as the team coach arrived at their hotel.
The Turkish side reached The Municipal Hotel in the city centre to stay overnight ahead of their massive encounter with the Premier League champions.
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Whether any of the rowdy fans who greeted them will gain entry to the match remains to be seen. Nevertheless, they undoubtedly provided their squad with an extraordinary reception to Liverpool.
UEFA imposed restrictions on visiting fans following crowd disturbances during Galatasaray’s Champions League play-off triumph against Juventus. They prohibited the Turkish club from distributing away tickets for the second leg at Anfield.
This is viewed as a huge advantage for Arne Slot’s team, who must reverse a 1-0 loss from last week’s first leg in Istanbul to advance to the quarter-finals.
Additional pressure weighs on the Dutch manager after the Reds were restricted to a 1-1 draw by faltering Spurs on Sunday, with their Premier League title defence already over.
Slot responded to claims the fans’ frustrations were aimed at him and knows a big European night at Anfield could change the atmosphere at the club.He said: “So if it’s true what you’re saying – and I don’t feel this at all – then I must have done a lot of things wrong and that’s never a nice feeling to have.
“Being in a club that’s always so supportive of the manager, in good and bad times, if they are not happy with me then apparently I’ve done so many things wrong and that’s never a nice feeling to have.
“But I know how the football industry works. Winning can change a lot. That’s what we are trying to achieve tomorrow. And we’re completely ready for that, I can tell you.”