Galatasaray have been urged to manage Victor Osimhen’s workload more cautiously after the club confirmed that the leading forward suffered a knee injury following its UEFA Champions League victory over VfB Stuttgart.
Key takeaways
- Sports journalist Ali Naci Küçük believes Galatasaray should occasionally begin matches without Osimhen.
- The Nigerian striker has played seven games by week 11 of the season and missed four others, including the next fixture.
- Osimhen is set to miss Saturday evening’s match against Amed SK.
- The forward is expected to be sidelined for around three weeks because of the knee problem.
Call for greater squad rotation
Küçük said Galatasaray should be more protective of Osimhen, citing the player’s injury record and the intensity he brings to every appearance. He noted that Osimhen was unavailable for nearly half of last season and has already missed a significant number of matches early in the current campaign.
“Last season, Osimhen was missing for close to half the year. We are now in week 11 this season: he has appeared in seven matches and missed four, including tomorrow’s match,” Küçük said.
He argued that the club should use rotation where possible, particularly in fixtures in which Galatasaray have a stronger chance of securing a result without relying on the striker from the opening whistle.
While Küçük acknowledged that playing conditions can contribute to physical strain, he said Osimhen’s playing style also makes him difficult to manage during games. The forward repeatedly puts in major effort and is not a player who can easily be restrained or asked to reduce his intensity.
“In his current state, the pitch matters, but Osimhen plays one match after another and expends enormous energy. He is not someone you can simply slow down or control,” he said.
Three-week absence expected
Küçük said Galatasaray should consider keeping Osimhen among the substitutes for more favorable matches in order to preserve his availability across the full season.
The striker will not feature when Galatasaray face Amed SK on Saturday evening. His knee injury is expected to keep him out for approximately three weeks.
