Buruk admits Osimhen absence hurting Galatasaray

Okan Buruk has acknowledged the impact of Victor Osimhen’s absence, as Galatasaray struggle to maintain form in the Süper Lig title race.

The Turkish champions have seen their lead at the top trimmed to two points after failing to win any of their last three matches, a run that includes two defeats and a draw.

Osimhen absence exposes attacking gaps

Osimhen has been sidelined since suffering a forearm fracture during Galatasaray’s Champions League defeat to Liverpool in March.

Since then, Galatasaray have managed just one point from a possible nine, underlining the striker’s importance to the team’s attacking structure.

Reacting after a 1-1 draw against Kocaelispor, Buruk admitted the Nigerian’s absence has been difficult to manage.

“Playing three games in a row this week wore us out. The most critical part was having two or three players at half capacity. Yunus, Lang and Sara played with injuries,” he said.

“The game with Osimhen is also valuable and important. It was tough without Osimhen.”

Fixture congestion adds pressure

Buruk also pointed to the toll of a demanding schedule, particularly the club’s involvement in European competition.

“We played 12 matches in the Champions League. That’s equivalent to maybe 24 Super Lig matches. You wear yourselves out a lot there, physically and mentally,” he added.

Boost expected from Osimhen return

Osimhen has resumed training and is expected to return soon, providing a timely lift as Galatasaray aim to regain momentum in the closing stages of the season.

The 27-year-old has contributed 12 league goals and four assists in 19 appearances in the league, with overall of 19 goals in 29 games in all competitions.