Nigeria international Victor Osimhen has expressed confidence and determination ahead of Galatasaray’s UEFA Champions League Round of 16 showdown with Liverpool, insisting his side is prepared to battle for a place in the quarter-finals.
The Turkish champions will host the Premier League giants in the first leg at RAMS Park in Istanbul on Tuesday, March 10, in what promises to be one of the standout ties of the knockout stage.
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Osimhen, who has been Galatasaray’s key attacking figure this season, believes the team must remain focused and disciplined if they are to overcome the English side.
Speaking after Galatasaray’s narrow 1–0 victory over Besiktas, where he scored the decisive goal, the Nigerian striker said the team is motivated and ready for the challenge ahead.
“We are following the instructions of our coach and working as a team,” Osimhen said.
“My teammates always motivate me, and after scoring they even reminded me to track back and help the defence.”
The 27-year-old forward also reaffirmed his strong connection with the Turkish club despite persistent transfer speculation linking him with several top European sides.
“I love this club very much and I’m proud of my team,” he added.
“We are showing great unity and we must take things one game at a time. This win gives us confidence, but we must keep our feet on the ground.”
Looking ahead to the meeting with Liverpool, Osimhen acknowledged the quality of the Premier League club but insisted Galatasaray will not shy away from the fight.
“Liverpool are a very big team, but we will be playing at home,” he said. “If we are careful, we can do well even though it won’t be easy. Every Champions League match is tough, but we are ready to fight and do our best.”
Osimhen already has a memorable moment against Liverpool this season. When both sides met during the league phase of the competition last September, the Nigerian striker converted a first-half penalty to secure a victory for Galatasaray at the same venue.
Since joining the Istanbul club permanently from Napoli last summer in a deal reported to be worth around £65 million, Osimhen has continued to impress, scoring 18 goals in all competitions so far this campaign.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has also acknowledged the difficulty of playing away in Istanbul, highlighting the intimidating atmosphere at Galatasaray’s home ground as a major factor.
“The atmosphere there is completely different from any other away game,” Slot said. “The noise from the fans makes it extremely difficult, and we know from experience that they are a very good team.”
With both sides aiming for a strong first-leg advantage, the encounter in Istanbul is expected to be a fiercely contested battle as Galatasaray look to harness their home support while Liverpool chase a positive result ahead of the return leg at Anfield.
