Galatasaray defender Abdulkerim Bardakci has offered unique insight into the transformative defensive impact of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, stating that the forward’s work rate fundamentally alters how the team defends from the front.
In comments translated from Turkish media outlet Sabah, Bardakci explained that defensive responsibilities for the backline are significantly reduced due to Osimhen’s aggressive pressure on opposing ball carriers.
“Defense starts from the forward. Osimhen is also one of the best in the world in this area,” Bardakci stated, highlighting how the striker’s relentless chasing prevents opponents from building clean attacking plays. He reported that wingers Yunus Akgün and Gabriel Sara frequently join Osimhen in coordinated pressing traps, which disrupts passing lanes before the ball can reach the defensive third.
According to Bardakci, this tactical setup means opposing midfielders and defenders have less time to pick out dangerous passes, directly easing the workload on Galatasaray’s center-backs.
The defender emphasized that Osimhen’s contributions often go beyond goal-scoring metrics. By forcing rushed clearances or defensive errors high up the pitch, the Nigerian international creates moments that Galatasaray exploits while simultaneously ensuring the ball “doesn’t often come to us” in dangerous areas.
This sentiment aligns with recent analyses of the Turkish Super Lig leaders, where Osimhen has registered multiple assists this season through defensive actions and intelligent pressing proving that his value to the team extends well into the defensive phase of play.