Galatasaray manager, Okan Buruk, has explained his decision to substitute Victor Osimhen during Thursday night’s UEFA Europa League clash against AZ Alkmaar.
The Turkish giants found themselves trailing 2-0 after 55 minutes in the second leg of the play-off tie. However, Osimhen sparked a comeback by reducing the deficit in the 56th minute, before Roland Sallai equalized 14 minutes later.
Despite Galatasaray still needing another goal to advance, Buruk opted to withdraw Osimhen 10 minutes from time, a decision that raised eyebrows among fans.
Buruk’s Explanation for Osimhen’s Substitution
Speaking to the club’s official website, Buruk clarified that his decision was a precautionary measure to protect the Nigerian striker from injury.
“Since our other forward, Morata, was injured, we decided to take Osimhen off in the last 10 minutes. It wasn’t the night we wanted. We were more hopeful. If we had scored the first goal, we could have gotten into the game even more,” Buruk stated.
The coach also admitted that while some players performed well individually, the overall team performance was below expectations.
Galatasaray’s Europa League Journey Ends
Despite their efforts, Galatasaray failed to overturn the aggregate deficit, marking the end of their Europa Leaguecampaign. Osimhen, who joined the club earlier this season, has been instrumental in their European and domestic performances.
As Galatasaray shifts focus to their Turkish Super Lig campaign, Buruk will be looking to keep his squad fit and competitive, ensuring key players like Osimhen remain in top form for the rest of the season.