Bursaspor head coach Mustafa Er has praised Kelechi Iheanacho for delivering the goals expected of him after the Nigerian striker made an impressive start to life at the Turkish club.
Iheanacho has recorded 12 goals and two assists in nine league appearances since joining Bursaspor on a free transfer in the summer, quickly establishing himself as a key figure in their promotion campaign.
The 30-year-old continued his scoring run on Sunday, finding the net in Bursaspor’s 2-1 home defeat to Mardin 1969 Spor.
Although the result ended the club’s home run of more than a year, Iheanacho extended his scoring streak to nine consecutive league matches for Bursaspor and 10 successive games for club and country.
Er said the club had worked hard to secure the former Leicester City and Celtic striker’s signature and was pleased with the return on that investment.
“We transferred Iheanacho so that he would score goals. We worked very hard for that transfer. We also need to thank our management,” Er said, according to the club’s official website.
readmore: Why Iheanacho earned 8.3 rating despite Bursaspor’s first home defeat in over a year
The Bursaspor manager also disclosed that several clubs were interested in Iheanacho before he opted to join the Green Crocodiles, suggesting the club’s stature played an important role in his decision.
“There was a lot of demand for him. The size of the club was also very important in his choosing us. We are getting the contribution we want,” Er added.
Beyond Iheanacho’s individual contribution, Er pointed to improvements in team spirit and productivity as Bursaspor continue their push for promotion.
The coach expressed hope that the striker would maintain his goalscoring form in the club’s next fixture, while stressing the importance of collective effort.
“Iheanacho continues to score. I hope he scores this week too. We have a positive team,” he said.
“There is tremendous progress in team spirit. Productivity is also increasing. People are more productive when they are happy. We win as a team.”
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Despite Sunday’s setback against Mardin, Iheanacho’s form remains a major positive for Bursaspor.
His 14 goal contributions in nine league appearances underline the importance of the summer signing to their campaign, even as Er looks for the entire squad to sustain its progress.
Bursaspor remain on 19 points and will seek a response when they travel to face Muğlaspor on Thursday, October 15.
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