Baroš: We all dream of Istanbul final

Milan Baroš has the tough task of replacing the legendary Hakan Şükür when he signed for Galatasaray AŞ in the summer, but a record of roughly a goal a game has endeared the Czech striker to his new fans. He has struck four in the UEFA Cup, helping to earn the 2000 winners a Round of 32 tie against FC Girondins de Bordeaux, with the first leg in France on Wednesday. uefa.com readers were invited to send their questions to Baroš who has answered a selection of the hundreds that were emailed to him from around the globe, opening up on life in Istanbul, his happy memories of a certain final in that city with Liverpool FC, and how the Czech Republic's loss to Turkey at UEFA EURO 2008™ ensured he would not take his new league lightly.

What are your thoughts on the Bordeaux match?
Mert Soyer, 15, Izmir, Turkey

Milan Baroš: The chances of both teams are balanced. Playing the first leg at Bordeaux could be to our advantage. If we get a good result there, we should be able to beat them on home soil. I hope we will go through, even though it is not going to be an easy game. They have a good team, with attacking players like [Marouane] Chamakh and [Yoann] Gourcuff but the defensive part of the team is strong as well, they do not concede many goals.

You played with Harry Kewell in the UEFA Champions League final in Istanbul for Liverpool. Will we see you both playing again in the UEFA Cup final in Istanbul for Galatasaray?
Duran Yildiz, Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany

We've talked about it and it would be fantastic to play in the final at the Şükrü Saracoğlu and win. But the journey to the final is very long and there are still a lot of very good clubs involved. I do not think we belong among the favourites. We must be patient and go step by step. There is Bordeaux now and then we will see what happens. But every one of us dreams about the final.

It's been a great pleasure watching you play for Galatasaray! To what factors do you attribute your great form this season?
Barbaros Sezer, 27, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Thank you! The reason is that I play regularly and I feel that the coach trusts me. This is what I need. On top of that, we have a very good attack-minded team, so we create many opportunities and I have been successful in converting them so far. I hope it continues!

Where have you enjoyed playing the most so far in your career?
Wojtek Zdrojkowski, London

Of course, I remember my days at Liverpool. The years I spent there were wonderful and I will never forget them. And Galatasaray is my second favourite.

Who is the best defender you have faced?
Andre Dega Barros, 28, Brazil

It is difficult to pick only one. But I would go for players like Rio Ferdinand or John Terry. I used to play against [Marcel] Desailly also. All of them were or are very good defenders.

Up until now, what is the most unforgettable thing that has occured in your football career?
Chi-Chio Suen, 15, Hong Kong, China

I have to choose the Champions League final in Istanbul where we [Liverpool] were 3-0 down at half-time but then we equalised and won after penalties. It has been my the greatest moment in my career so far.

Which Turkish food do you like the most?
Ibrahim Erhan Arslan, 20, Turkey

We have a kebab after every match and a Turkish kind of pizza called lahmacun. Apart from that, I have not tasted much Turkish food so far. But kebabs are good!

What do you think about being compared to Galatasaray legend Hakan Şükür?
Metecan Kanbur, 18, Istanbul

I feel very honoured. He retired last season so when I score goals they compare me to him. I hope it will continue. He was a great forward and he scored a lot of goals. If they compare me to him, it is a good apprecation of my work.

What's it like playing in Turkey compared to England and France?
Michael Aksoy, Sydney, Australia

The English Premier League is the best competition in the world so you can not compare it, but you can with Ligue 1. In Turkey there are six or seven clubs who have very good squads, with a lot of foreign players. Before arriving, I did not know what to expect from the Turkish league but after six-months' experience I can say that it has top quality and attacking competition.

Did the match between Turkey and the Czech Republic at EURO 2008 change your opinion of Turkish football?
Ünal Karakaya, Turkey, Istanbul

No. I knew before EURO 2008 that Turkey had very good team, they have proved it in recent years as they have taken part in most major tournaments. The EUROs were great for them and they were eliminated by Germany with a piece of bad luck. Therefore, I did not expect the league to be easy.

Who is your best friend in Galatasaray?
Mert Soyer, 15, Izmir, Turkey

My best friends are among the foreign players like Harry Kewell, Lincoln, Fernando Meira and Morgan De Sanctis.

You have played at two clubs which are both known to have very dedicated fans. How would you compare Galatasaray and Liverpool fans?
Berk Kak, 15, Podgorica, Montenegro

Both clubs have amazing fans. They support us and their club means everything to them. It is very important when you feel such support from your fans. I think both groups of supporters belong to the best I have seen so far in football.

Why did you choose Galatasaray?
Mikail Öztürk

I'd also had offers from other countries but Galatasaray met my expectations and [former club] Lyon's as well. I thought the squad was very good and Galatasaray are going for the title and in the Champions League race every year. It is always a better option than playing in a different country in the relegation zone. This team have very good chances of winning silverware.

Is it hard to understand your team-mates during games? Are you learning Turkish?
Merve Karabulut, Istanbul, Turkey

I know the basic phrases you need out on the pitch but English is spoken during our games, so we all get by.

What makes Galatasaray special for you and what do you think Galatasaray need to become a leading team in Europe again like it was in 2000 and 2001?
Hulusi Bahcivan, Turkey, Istanbul

To win the UEFA Cup (laughs)!! Our team is very good but it is pointless to speak about this at the beginning of the knockout rounds. We have to be patient. There are a lot of trophy contenders in this competition.

What do you think when the crowd sings and roars your name after you score a goal?
Semih Kiremit, Netherlands

It is a beautiful feeling. That's why we play football, to have such success and joy. When the crowd sings it is a nice reward for your work.

After two disappointing seasons at Lyon you are now top scorer in the Turkish league. What did you do to become such a focal point in attack again?
Ferdi Eryilmaz, 27, Saint-Etienne, France

It is important that I play regularly. It is difficult to score goals when you are on the bench. And there are players like Lincoln, Kewell and Arda [Turan] around me who can create chances for attackers – this is also very important.

After so much success and so many goals in the Turkish first division are you interested in a bigger challenge?
Alper Turfan, 19, from Koblenz, Germany

Football is always about challenges, every new season. Now, we want to win the Turkish league and the UEFA Cup. When the season ends we will know if it was successful year or not. If I add a few more goals, it will be great. I have scored 20 in all competitions so far and if I reach 30, it would be really fantastic.

Milan Baroš was speaking to Karel Häring