Trabzonspor defender Chibuike Nwaiwu says following head coach Thomas Reis’ instructions was central to the club’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Turkish Super Lig champions Galatasaray.
Trabzonspor produced a commanding performance at Papara Park on Saturday night, defeating the reigning champions in front of their home supporters.
Nwaiwu said the team’s focus at half-time, despite already holding a comfortable advantage, helped them maintain their performance and complete the victory.
“We went into the locker room at halftime,” Nwaiwu was quoted as saying by Haber61.
“Among the things we talked about with our teammates were the instructions from our coach. He told us that we needed to keep going, maintain the scoreline and that we could finish the match with an even bigger score.
“We were playing against a formidable opponent, so the discussion focused on the need to remain serious and maintain our concentration.”
The Nigerian defender said Trabzonspor’s preparation for the fixture had also been important, with the squad spending the week working towards the difficult game after the international break.
“It was a tough week for us. We worked throughout the week for this difficult match after the international break,” Nwaiwu said.
He also pointed to the influence of Trabzonspor’s new coach, saying the team had started to play with greater rhythm.
“With our new coach, we have been playing with more rhythm, and I want to dedicate this victory to our fans,” Nwaiwu added.