Galatasaray Boss Discloses Pivotal Halftime Message to Victor Osimhen
Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk has revealed the crucial conversation he had with striker Victor Osimhen during halftime, which ultimately led to the Nigerian forward's decisive goal against Juventus in the UEFA Champions League. The dramatic match took place on February 25, 2026, with Galatasaray securing a thrilling 7-5 aggregate victory to advance to the Round of 16.
Juventus' Dramatic Comeback and Galatasaray's Response
Juventus staged a remarkable comeback during regular time, scoring three goals to erase Galatasaray's 5-2 aggregate advantage and force the match into extra time. Despite playing with ten men, the Italian giants pushed the Turkish champions to their limits, creating a tense atmosphere at the stadium.
However, Galatasaray's numerical advantage eventually proved decisive during the additional thirty minutes. The Turkish side scored twice in extra time, with Victor Osimhen opening the scoring in the 106th minute before Baris Alper Yilmaz added an insurance goal to secure their progression to the knockout stages.
Buruk's Halftime Instructions to Osimhen
Coach Okan Buruk provided detailed insight into his halftime discussion with Osimhen during his post-match interview with GS TV. "At halftime, we talked about the need for more teamwork and confidence in the players," Buruk explained. "Relying on long balls to protect the score and avoiding responsibility wasn't the right approach."
The Galatasaray manager expressed disappointment with his team's second-half performance but revealed the specific encouragement he gave to his star striker. "Despite this, I told Victor Osimhen to stay calm, that the opportunity would come," Buruk disclosed. "And indeed, that opportunity came, he scored, and became one of the players who changed the course of the match. He deserved it; I congratulated him."
Critical Assessment of Team Performance
Both Osimhen and his manager expressed dissatisfaction with Galatasaray's overall performance, particularly after gaining a numerical advantage. Buruk was blunt in his assessment: "Our performance, especially after switching to 11 against 10, was unacceptable. We should have finished the match much more comfortably, but it looked like we were the ones playing with fewer players."
The coach highlighted several areas of concern: "We made too many mistakes, both with and without possession. We couldn't create chances, we allowed the opponent to attack, and we conceded two goals. The mindset of 'we'll win anyway' is unacceptable at this level."
Looking Ahead to Champions League Knockout Stages
The draw for the Champions League Round of 16 will be held on Friday, February 27, 2026. According to reports from Fanatik, Galatasaray is likely to face either Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur in the next round. This potential matchup carries particular significance for Osimhen, who scored the winning goal against Liverpool during the group stage.
Interestingly, Osimhen chose not to celebrate his crucial goal against Juventus out of respect for his former manager Luciano Spalletti, who currently coaches the Italian side. The striker also cited his team's overall poor performance as another reason for his subdued reaction to the goal.
As Galatasaray prepares for the knockout stages, Buruk emphasized that his team must significantly raise their performance level to compete successfully against Europe's elite clubs. The Turkish champions will need to address the tactical and mental issues highlighted by their coach if they hope to progress further in the competition.
