Former Watford captain Troy Deeney says Galatasaray’s 1–0 UEFA champions League defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise was a direct result of playing without star forward Victor Osimhen, stressing that the Nigerian’s influence on the Turkish champions is impossible to replicate.
Galatasaray’s loss on Tuesday was their second defeat of the campaign, both coming in matches Osimhen did not play. Their earlier 5–1 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt also happened in his absence, further underlining his significance to the team’s setup.
“You Just Can’t Underplay His Importance” Deeney
Reacting after the match, Deeney praised Osimhen as one of the world’s elite strikers and insisted Galatasaray cannot expect the same threat without him.
“You just can’t underplay his importance to the team… Osimhen is one of the top five strikers in world football. If you don’t have someone like that, you can’t just pull anybody from the bench.”
He added that even top European sides struggle without their main goal scorer, and Galatasaray is no different.
Osimhen’s Champions League Impact: The Numbers Tell the Story
Osimhen’s influence on Galatasaray’s European form has been immense this season. The Turkish champions have won all three Champions League matches he has played, with the Nigerian scoring six goals in those fixtures.
He is also enjoying the most prolific European run of his career:
- 8 straight European games with a goal
- 12 goals scored in that period
Manager Okan Buruk has based his attacking system around the forward’s pace, movement, and finishing ability attributes Galatasaray noticeably lacked against Union Saint-Gilloise.
Attack Lacks Bite Without Their Talisman
Without Osimhen, Galatasaray struggled to create clear openings and looked far less dangerous in the final third. The defeat leaves them under pressure as the Champions League group stage moves into its decisive final rounds.
The club remains optimistic about Osimhen’s return, with medical staff continuing to assess his recovery. His comeback could prove pivotal in determining whether Galatasaray secures a place in the knockout stage.
