Terim wants positive Galatasaray

Galatsaray coach Fatih Terim said he hopes his side doesn’t have to rely on other results to reach the Champions League knockout stages.

Sitting in second spot heading into their final Group H game away to Sporting Braga on Wednesday, Terim said his side must go for broke to ensure their progress, rather than relying on the already-qualified Manchester United to beat CFR Cluj.

Cluj and Galatasaray are both level on seven points in the group, but the Turks sit above their Romanian counterparts on head-to-head records in the battle for second spot.

Terim said they must attempt to go for the full three points at the Estadio AXA in Braga, or risk losing their place in the last 16.

“Any of the teams could have gone through in this group,” Terim told reporters.

“Braga’s team were one of the strongest in the group, but football is like that and you can’t always get results. We know they have quality and strength, so it will be a good game.

“We want to get through and therefore our body and soul will be on the pitch. We don’t care about other results, we just want to get a good result here.”

Despite urging his team to focus on a win, Terim did concede playing Braga in Portugal would be a difficult task.

He added: “For me, the best option is to get through – that’s the important thing, whatever the result.

“Tomorrow’s match will be much more difficult than in Istanbul, because Braga are playing at home so they have no pressure and they’re playing for pride.”