Victor Osimhen has reminded his critics of the confidence that has driven his rise to the top of European football, insisting that nobody can teach him how to score goals after helping Galatasaray fight back to beat his former club Lille 4-2 in the Champions League on Wednesday night, Footynaija.com reports.
The Nigerian striker has faced questions over his performances since returning from a groin injury, with criticism growing during a spell in which he struggled to find the net in Europe. His display against Lille was a timely response, but his words afterwards made clear that outside opinion had done little to shake his belief in his ability.
Osimhen knows the French side well. He spent the 2019/20 season at Lille, scoring 18 goals in 38 appearances before moving to Napoli, where he went on to become one of the leading strikers in Serie A. His return to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy was personal, and he did not celebrate when he scored against his former club.
Osimhen refuses to be drawn into criticism
In a video posted by Le Marca after the match, Osimhen pointed to his background and experience as reasons he does not fear difficult moments.
“I come from a place where I’m not afraid, I don’t fear difficulties. No one can tell me how to sprint, how to play, how to score goals. I already do these things, and that’s why I’m one of the world’s best strikers,” he said.
He also dismissed attempts to pull him into arguments about his form, insisting that he has more important things to focus on than outside criticism.
“They don’t really know me, nothing they say affects me. They want to drag me into that, but I’ve approached all the talk with indifference. I have other things to deal with, I’m not bothering with these.”
The goal backed up his confidence. Lille took the lead twice in a frantic first half, but Galatasaray drew level before going ahead through a Nabil Bentaleb own goal early in the second half. Osimhen then finished a counter-attack in the 61st minute, with Barış Alper Yılmaz providing the assist, to make it 4-2 and secure Galatasaray’s first points of this Champions League campaign.
For Osimhen, the response was both personal and professional. He answered questions about his form with a decisive goal, while making it clear that he has no intention of allowing criticism to define him.
