‘We’ve proven our strength at the highest level’ – Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen on Galatasaray’s victory over Liverpool
Victor Osimhen believes Galatasaray’s Champions League triumph over Liverpool proved the Turkish side’s quality on Europe’s biggest stage.
The Nigerian striker was the hero in Istanbul, converting an early penalty that secured a 1-0 win and marked a memorable night for Okan Buruk’s men.
Osimhen, who has become central to Gala’s attack since his arrival, described the victory as a collective effort that underlined the team’s resilience.
“My team-mates and I managed to defeat a very good team by giving it our all. As Player of the Match, I’m very happy, but this is a success for all of us, along with our coach Okan Buruk,” he said after the match.
He praised the club’s passionate supporters, who created a raucous atmosphere at Rams Park.
“Our fans are incredible, as always. We’ve shown our true strength at this level. We’ve proven to the entire public what warriors we are. Whether it’s here or on any field, as long as we play like this, we’ll win every match.”
The victory was particularly significant for Galatasaray, who had opened their group campaign with a heavy defeat.
Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan stressed how important it was for the side to respond.
“It feels very special, especially coming from a bad defeat in our first game of our Champions League campaign. Playing against an amazing Liverpool team, we knew it was going to be very tough and that we needed a special team performance, and convert the chances that we got. That’s exactly what we did,” he said.
Gundogan added that the match demonstrated both character and unity: “Sometimes you cannot control everything because the opponent is so strong.
“It was about defending together and suffering together through periods of the game. This makes this performance even more special.”
The result puts Galatasaray firmly back in contention in their Champions League group phase, with Osimhen’s decisive contribution further enhancing his growing reputation in Europe.
