Galatasaray v Cluj preview
Terim playing down importance of Group H encounter
Last Updated: October 23, 2012 9:39am
Fatih Terim: Played down the importance of the clash
Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim is playing down the importance of his side's clash with Cluj in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
The Turkish title holders are rooted to the bottom of Group H on zero points following defeats to Manchester United and Braga, the latter being something of a shock as it came in Istanbul.
As a result, to the neutral Tuesday's game is a win-or-bust one but, according to Terim, that is not the case.
"This game is not for life or death," he told a pre-match press conference today.
"The Cluj match is of great importance to them, but not a life or death match. I would like to remind you that this is not the fate of life or death.
"We will have an understanding of this game, we know what we need to do and we need to attack.
"But I will not change my philosophy, even if we lose. Galatasaray should be in control of this game, we will try to make sure of that."
Despite appearing to be the minnows of the group, Cluj head to Turkey with three straight away European wins behind them.
They defeated Slovan Liberec and Basel in qualifying, while they also took the scalp of Braga on matchday one.
Beautiful
"As always, this will be a tough game against Romanian opposition," Terim, whose side drew 3-3 with Genclerbirligi on Friday night, added.
"This football is so beautiful and all the teams are so close to each other, therefore there are lots of conclusions to come out of each match.
"The game will be won by the team who make the least mistakes and tomorrow I hope we are ready to play our game."
Terim's opposite number, Ioan Andone, has spent the build-up to the game trying to pour water on a row with goalkeeper Nuno Claro, who accused his manager of putting him in the wilderness and "not inviting me to the party".
"If he does not agree, why does he not leave?" Andone said.
"Come on! He has an offer from a team that have given him an offer of 2,000 euros a month, but he would rather stay here for 10,000 a month.
"I'm sorry for him, but I have three goalkeepers of greater value than him."
Cluj are alongside Braga on three points, having lost to Manchester United last time out.
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Matches
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UEFA Champions League
Tue 23rd Oct - Group G
Tue 23rd Oct - Group F
Tue 23rd Oct - Group H
Tue 23rd Oct - Group E
Tables
UEFA Champions League Group A
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paris St Germain | 6 | 15 |
| 2 | FC Porto | 6 | 13 |
| 3 | Dynamo Kiev | 6 | 5 |
| 4 | Dinamo Zagreb | 6 | 1 |
UEFA Champions League Group B
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Schalke | 6 | 12 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 6 | 10 |
| 3 | Olympiakos FC | 6 | 9 |
| 4 | Montpellier | 6 | 2 |
UEFA Champions League Group C
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malaga | 6 | 12 |
| 2 | AC Milan | 6 | 8 |
| 3 | Zenit St. Petersburg | 6 | 7 |
| 4 | Anderlecht | 6 | 5 |
UEFA Champions League Group D
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Borussia Dortmund | 6 | 14 |
| 2 | Real Madrid | 6 | 11 |
| 3 | Ajax | 6 | 4 |
| 4 | Manchester City | 6 | 3 |
UEFA Champions League Group E
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Juventus | 6 | 12 |
| 2 | Shakhtar Donetsk | 6 | 10 |
| 3 | Chelsea | 6 | 10 |
| 4 | FC Nordsjaelland | 6 | 1 |
UEFA Champions League Group F
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bayern Munich | 6 | 13 |
| 2 | Valencia | 6 | 13 |
| 3 | BATE Borisov | 6 | 6 |
| 4 | Lille | 6 | 3 |
UEFA Champions League Group G
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barcelona | 6 | 13 |
| 2 | Celtic | 6 | 10 |
| 3 | Benfica | 6 | 8 |
| 4 | Spartak Moscow | 6 | 3 |
UEFA Champions League Group H
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester United | 6 | 12 |
| 2 | Galatasaray | 6 | 10 |
| 3 | CFR Cluj-Napoca | 6 | 10 |
| 4 | Braga | 6 | 3 |
