Victor Osimhen has admitted he would prefer not to face Liverpool FC in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League, although he maintained that Galatasaray S.K. are ready to take on any opponent after eliminating Juventus FC in the knockout phase play-offs.
Osimhen played a decisive role as Galatasaray secured a dramatic 7–5 aggregate victory on Wednesday night. The Turkish champions entered the second leg with a 5–2 advantage from the first meeting but saw their lead wiped out after Juventus scored three unanswered goals to level the tie at 5–5 and force extra time.
The Nigerian striker restored Galatasaray’s advantage with a goal during extra time before teammate Baris Alper Yilmaz added another to seal the win and send the Istanbul club into the last 16 of the competition.
Following the victory, Osimhen told CBS Sports that while the team is prepared for any challenge, he would prefer to avoid Liverpool in the next round.
“I mean, to be honest with you, meeting Liverpool now is going to be like some sort of revenge. Anyone we meet now… I wouldn’t say much, but I would like to escape Liverpool,” he said.
The forward added that regardless of the opponent, Galatasaray are ready to compete against the best teams in Europe.
“If they come, we’re going to dig it out, but it’s not going to be easy. This is the Champions League, no team is easy. If you want to win, you also have to play the big teams and make a statement for yourself,” he said.
Galatasaray will face either Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur FC when the draw for the Round of 16 is conducted.
The night was also significant for Osimhen personally as he set a new record for Galatasaray in the competition. His extra-time strike took his tally to seven goals in eight matches this season, making him the club’s highest-scoring foreign player in the Champions League.
The Nigerian striker surpassed the previous record held by Mario Jardel, who scored six goals in 14 appearances for the club. Osimhen now also ranks ahead of former Galatasaray stars such as Wesley Sneijder and Didier Drogba in the club’s Champions League scoring chart.
Osimhen was named Player of the Match for the encounter, marking the fourth time he has received the honour during the current Champions League campaign.
The 27-year-old is now just one goal away from equalling the club’s record for the most goals in a single Champions League season, set by former Turkish striker Burak Yilmaz, who scored eight goals in nine matches during the 2012/13 campaign.
