Fabian Bredlow said the intense whistling from the stands at Galatasaray’s stadium made it difficult for VfB Stuttgart players to communicate during their 2-0 Champions League defeat. The goalkeeper also questioned whether every whistle came from spectators, saying the sound seemed unusual when whistles interrupted the fans’ singing.
“It was loud. Especially at the beginning, it was very, very loud,” Bredlow said after the match. He added that he gradually tuned out the noise during the game and could still hear well.
The atmosphere had already become a subject of discussion before kick-off. Stuttgart’s social media team posted a picture of a loudspeaker system in the stadium with three thinking-face emojis. Some Galatasaray supporters reportedly interpreted the post as provocative. Stuttgart deleted it after strong fan reactions and apologised, saying it had not intended to offend anyone and was grateful for the hospitality. Galatasaray accepted the apology and welcomed the club to its stadium.
Stuttgart sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth said the atmosphere had not harmed his team, describing it as motivating. Captain Deniz Undav also dismissed the discussion, saying he was proud that Stuttgart had stood its ground.
On the pitch, Galatasaray secured a 2-0 win, with Aleksei Batrakov scoring in the 12th and 15th minutes. It was the Turkish club’s second victory in the Champions League league phase, while Stuttgart suffered its first defeat in four matches in this season’s competition.
Stuttgart also rued an early chance when Jamie Leweling hit the left post and then the right post after a cross from Maximilian Mittelstädt. Coach Sebastian Hoeneß said his side had created enough opportunities but could not get the ball into the net.
Sources: FAZ.