By Ali Elias
Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk has revealed he deliberately substituted star striker Victor Osimhen early during their emphatic 4-1 win over Sivasspor—despite the Nigerian being on a hot streak in front of goal.
Osimhen netted a brace in the match, taking his season tally to a personal best of 32 goals. However, fans and pundits alike believe he was on course for a hat-trick—or more—until Buruk decided to pull him off the pitch.
“I prevented him from raising his career record a little bit,” Buruk said in a post-match interview. “I took him out of the game early, considering his next match. There was also the risk of injury and card.”
The coach admitted with a chuckle that the move was partly protective, partly tactical. “He could have easily scored three goals today, but we want to protect our players. I may have prevented him from improving his career record a little bit. (Laughing).”
The Istanbul giants now sit eight points clear at the top of the Turkish Super Lig table, with title rivals Fenerbahce yet to play later in the day. Galatasaray are in pole position to clinch their third straight league title, and Buruk emphasized that full focus is on finishing the job.
“We are looking at each match,” he said. “We are focusing on our own match without looking at our opponent’s match.”
“We want to win the three-match series and be crowned champions. We will go to a difficult Trabzon away match. We will play the Kayseri match and the Göztepe away match. Our goal is to win here and be champions.”
“I hope we can be champions as soon as possible. We need to continue with the same concentration. The important thing is to do our job correctly.”
With Osimhen firing on all cylinders and the team clicking at the right time, Galatasaray fans may soon have cause to celebrate.