Nigerian striker bails Turkish champions, calls for “revenge” at Anfield
Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen has expressed his desire to face Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, following the Turkish giants’ dramatic qualification on Wednesday night.
Osimhen scored the decisive goal that rescued Galatasaray against a spirited Juventus comeback, ensuring the club reached the last 16 stage of Europe’s premier club competition for the first time in 12 years.
“Revenge” at Anfield
In a post-match interview with CBS Sports, Osimhen said he was hoping for a high-profile clash with Liverpool, whom Galatasaray defeated 1-0 in Istanbul during the group stage thanks to his first-half penalty.
“To be honest with you, meeting Liverpool now will be some sort of revenge [for them]. I would like to escape Liverpool but if they come, we are going to dig it out, it is not going to be easy,” Osimhen said.
He added: “So, if you try to win [the Champions League title], you have to also play the big dogs and make a statement for yourself. I think we’ve met Liverpool [in the league phase], but we haven’t played at Anfield. If we meet them it is going to be an amazing game, but I think we are up to the task. We have the fight [in this team].”
Frustration at Juventus Collapse
Despite his crucial strike, Osimhen was visibly angry with Galatasaray’s performance, criticizing the team for surrendering a three-goal first-leg advantage to a ten-man Juventus.
“Qualification gives a kind of sense of relief, but I have to be honest, I am disappointed in the performance of the team, the whole team, and I have to give kudos to Juventus for the kind of display that they put on,” he said.
“Yes, we qualified, but we have a lot to improve on if we are to go into the next round and play the big dogs. This performance today was not really good, Juventus deserve the win but I am happy for my team to qualify for the next round.”
Osimhen also shared a light-hearted moment with Thierry Henry, exchanging laughs over a humorous “how body” question in pidgin.
Galatasaray will discover their Round of 16 opponent — either Liverpool or Tottenham — on Friday, February 27, setting the stage for a potentially thrilling European encounter.
