Victor Osimhen says he is ready for the challenge laid down by Juventus defender Lloyd Kelly ahead of Wednesday’s decisive Champions League playoff clash, Soccernet.ng reports.
Italian giants Juventus host Galatasaray at the Allianz Stadium in Turin for the second leg, with the Turkish champions holding a strong advantage.
Galatasaray won the first leg 5-2 in Istanbul last week, with Victor Osimhen delivering a standout performance. The Nigeria international registered two assists and played a key role in several goals as Juventus struggled to cope with his movement and physical presence.
The task facing Juventus is clear. The Italian side must win by three goals to force penalties or by four goals to progress outright, a comeback that would require them to silence Osimhen.
Defender Lloyd Kelly acknowledged Osimhen's quality but insisted Juventus will approach the striker and the match differently this time.
At the pre-match press conference, Lloyd Kelly said: “Osimhen is an extraordinary player. He showed that in the first match as well. We won’t give him the same opportunities this time. We have to put our whole heart out on the pitch.”
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Osimhen welcomes the fight
Rather than feeling pressured, Osimhen appears motivated by Juventus' determination to stop him.
The former Napoli striker believes defensive attention is part of his role as a leading forward and insists he thrives in physical contests.
“A defender trying to stop a striker like Osimhen will inevitably have concerns,” Osimhen said.
“I always try to be an aggressive striker on the court, to disrupt the defense and put the opponent in a difficult situation; that's my job.”
The 27-year-old was also quick to stress that Galatasaray’s threat goes far beyond one player. With attackers such as Mauro Icardi and Noa Lang available, he believes Juventus cannot focus on him alone.
“But I'm not alone here,” the Nigeria forward added. “There's Barış, there's Noa Lang, and I have very valuable teammates supporting me behind me. So it wouldn't be right for them to focus only on me.
“As Galatasaray, we have many players who can challenge defenses. I think tomorrow's match will be a battle, almost a war. We will fight until the last drop of sweat on the court, and we will be the side that wants to win. Hopefully, we will be the winning side at the end of this long struggle.”
History offers encouragement for the visitors. Galatasaray have lost only once in three previous matches played on Juventus soil, recording two draws.
Osimhen himself also enjoys a strong personal record against the Italian club, winning six of eight meetings while contributing two goals and four assists.
