Galatasaray must make Champions League sacrifice to win league, insists Carvalhal

Mar 12, 2013 4:30:00 PM

The former Besiktas man says the Turkish giants' success in the title race depends on how far they can go in the Champions League

Former Besiktas coach Carlos Carvalhal believes Galatasaray are jeopardising their chances of securing the Super Lig if they continue their extended run in Europe.

The Turkish club go into Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Schalke in Germany with the scores tied at 1-1, and Carvalhal says if they end up managing to get through the tie, it could harm their chances of domestic success.

"If Galatasaray beat Schalke in the Champions League and reach the quarter-finals they may drop points in the league, but if they are eliminated they will finish this season as champions again," he told reporters

It is tight at the top in the Super Lig with only a handful of points separating Galatasaray, Besiktas and Fenerbahce, and the 47-year-old, who was sacked last April by Besiktas, believes they have the upper hand in the title race as they can put all their focus onto one competition.

He added: "Besiktas have an advantage in the race for the championship because they only have the league to concentrate on.”

Galatasaray lead the way after 25 Super Lig games on 47 points, with Besiktas and Fenerbahce chasing them on 43.

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