Galatasaray boss Buruk says team miss Osimhen but remain strong after win

Galatasaray defeated Kocaelispor 1-0 on Sunday night thanks to a second-half goal from Turkish defender Abdülkerim Bardakcı. The win came while star striker Victor Osimhen remained sidelined with a groin injury suffered during Galatasaray’s 3-2 victory over Istanbul Başakşehir earlier in the week. Manager Okan Buruk acknowledged the team misses Osimhen’s presence, noting that his role extends beyond scoring to providing a psychological edge against opponents. Despite the absence, Buruk said the squad remains strong, pointing to capable players who stepped up and expressing satisfaction with midfielder Deniz’s performance. He added that the club hopes Osimhen and teammate Jean Michaël Seri will be fit for the upcoming match against Trabzonspor at Papara Park, where they aim to maintain their momentum. Buruk also emphasized that the team will continue to work on maintaining attacking pressure even without Osimhen, relying on collective effort. For fans and fantasy managers, the update highlights Osimhen’s injury status to watch and underscores Galatasaray’s squad depth as they navigate a busy fixture list.

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/14/turkey-we-miss-osimhen-but-were-strong-without-him-buruk/