Paulo Fonseca on Endrick After His First Goal: “He’s Very Strong One-on-One”
Endrick made his long-awaited debut for Olympique Lyonnais yesterday, a match he had been eagerly anticipating as the start of his new adventure in French football. The young Brazilian joined Lyon in search of quality minutes that would allow him to continue developing—and he wasted no time making an impact.
With his very first touch, Endrick drove forward and fired a shot from outside the box. The goalkeeper managed to get a touch, and the ball crashed against the post. His moment arrived in the second half, when he scored his first goal for Lyon, putting his team ahead on the scoreboard.
Fonseca Delighted with His New Forward
Lyon head coach Paulo Fonseca is thrilled to have Endrick at his disposal. He pushed hard to secure the youngster’s loan and now plans to use him extensively throughout the season. Fonseca believes Endrick will score plenty of goals and significantly raise the team’s level in the final third, not only through finishing but also by creating chances for his teammates thanks to his dribbling ability and attacking drive.
The Portuguese coach made his feelings clear after the match.
The Coach’s Words
“After just one week with us, it wasn’t easy, but I think it was very positive. He scored, which is important (…) I believe that over time he will improve physically and better understand the team’s intentions. But this was very positive for a player who hadn’t been playing much.
“As for his best qualities, he’s very explosive, very fast, and very strong in one-on-one situations. He needs time to understand the team’s ideas. He did some good things in attack and worked very hard in defence,” Fonseca said after the game.
A Promising Start
There’s no better way to debut for a new club than by scoring. At just 19 years old, Endrick has already shown at Real Madrid that when given minutes, he can contribute thanks to his natural goalscoring instinct. However, due to the intense competition in Madrid’s attack and Xabi Alonso’s current plans, the Brazilian does not yet fit into the project.
That may change next season, but for now, Gonzalo appears to be ahead in the pecking order.
Endrick harbours no resentment and is fully focused on making the most of his time at Lyon. There will be time later to think about a return to Real Madrid. For now, his priority is adapting to his new team and league, and reaching peak condition ahead of the international World Cup. Ultimately, Carlo Ancelotti will decide whether Endrick has a role in Brazil’s plans.
