Juventus defender Lloyd Kelly has declared that the team has learned from their mistakes against Galatasaray's Victor Osimhen, following their first-leg collapse in the UEFA Champions League knockout playoffs, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Old Lady suffered an embarrassing 5-2 defeat at Rams Park last week. The result was a fair reflection of the match, as Galatasaray dominated the proceedings and clinical finishing earned them a significant advantage.
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen was the primary threat on the pitch. While Juventus technically managed to keep him off the scoresheet, the 27-year-old marksman still wreaked havoc.
His relentless pressing and physical presence saw him directly involved in three goals. Lloyd Kelly was one of Osimhen’s most notable victims on the night, as the striker picked his pocket to provide the assist for Noa Lang, which accounted for Galatasaray’s fourth goal.
Kelly Promises a Tactical Shift Against Victor Osimhen
Ahead of the second leg at the Allianz Stadium in Turin on Wednesday, Kelly identified Osimhen as the key man tthat Galatasaray will look to exploit.
He emphasized that the Italian giants are now better prepared to keep the Super Eagles star at bay.
”Osimhen is an extraordinary player; he proved that in the first match,” Kelly said during the pre-match press conference.
“We will try to deny him the same opportunities he enjoyed in the first leg. As a team, we have to give everything on the pitch.”
Because of the three-goal deficit, the Old Lady is forced to adopt an ultra-attacking approach. While they chase the goals needed to overturn the aggregate score, they risk leaving massive spaces behind for the Galatasaray forwards to exploit.
Given Osimhen’s track record, he will almost certainly punish Juventus if he is granted the space to roam in transition.
