Galatasaray assistant coach İrfan Saraloğlu has explained why Victor Osimhen was introduced late in the club’s 3-1 victory over Kasimpasa, following the Nigerian striker’s return from injury.
Osimhen came off the bench during Friday evening’s Turkish Super Lig encounter at Rams Park, making his first appearance since sustaining an injury in Galatasaray’s 3-2 win over Istanbul Başakşehir in September.
The former Napoli forward replaced Deniz Gul with 13 minutes remaining as Galatasaray looked to consolidate their advantage and secure all three points.
Despite his limited time on the pitch, the Super Eagles striker made an impact by creating several scoring opportunities before providing an assist for Mario Lemina’s goal in the closing stages.
The Gabonese midfielder scored Galatasaray’s third goal, with Osimhen playing a key role in sealing the victory.
Speaking after the match, Saraloğlu explained that the coaching staff had been careful with Osimhen’s workload because he had only recently recovered from injury.
The assistant coach said the decision to introduce the Nigerian late in the game was intended to protect his fitness and reduce the risk of a recurrence of the problem.
“Osimhen has only recently recovered from injury, so we needed to manage his workload carefully. We also had to consider the welfare of players returning from international commitments,” he added.
Saraloğlu also discussed the team’s performance after Lucas Torreira was sent off in the 65th minute, saying the dismissal affected Galatasaray’s tactical organisation and forced the side to adopt a more defensive approach.
“During the second half, following the dismissal, we became more defensive, and our tactical structure was compromised.
“However, I must note that Sanchez was out of position when the goal was conceded. They capitalised on that space,” he stated, according to Galatasaray’s official website.
Osimhen’s return will be encouraging for Galatasaray as the club continues its campaign, with the Nigerian expected to play a key role once he regains full match fitness.
Before suffering the injury, the striker had enjoyed an impressive start to the 2026/2027 season, scoring six goals and providing two assists in four matches against Corum FK, Erzurumspor FK, Göztepe and Istanbul Başakşehir.
His contribution against Kasimpasa suggests he remains capable of influencing games even when introduced from the bench.
Galatasaray will, however, continue to manage his recovery carefully as they seek to ensure that he returns to full fitness without suffering another setback.
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