Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen has applauded Juventus for pushing his side to the limit in their UEFA Champions League playoff round encounter, while admitting he was disappointed with his team’s defensive lapse that nearly cost them qualification.
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Galatasaray eventually advanced after a dramatic night that saw the aggregate score level at 5-5, forcing extra time in what turned out to be one of the most intense fixtures of the playoff stage.
Speaking after the match, Osimhen acknowledged the quality and resilience of the Italian giants.
“Juventus gave us a very good fight,” Osimhen said. “They showed why they are one of the biggest clubs in Europe. Even when things were difficult for them, they kept pushing.”
However, the Nigerian forward did not hide his frustration with how the Turkish side allowed the tie to slip back into contention after holding a strong advantage.
“I was frustrated because we lost a bit of our fighting spirit at some point. Conceding three goals to make it 5-5 on aggregate is not something we should be proud of,” he admitted.
Osimhen stressed that while qualification is what ultimately matters, Galatasaray must raise their level in the next round if they hope to compete against Europe’s elite.
“We were fortunate to go through, but against the really big teams in the knockout stage, you cannot rely on luck. You must be disciplined for 90 minutes or more,” he added.
The striker emphasized that lessons must be learned quickly as the Champions League knockout stage demands greater tactical awareness and mental strength.
“This competition punishes small mistakes. We must improve defensively and stay focused from start to finish,” Osimhen concluded.
Galatasaray now await their Round of 16 opponents, knowing tougher tests lie ahead on Europe’s biggest stage.
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