With seven goal contributions in his first ten games for Lyon since joining on loan from a Real Madrid side that, rather unwisely, could not accommodate him in their attacking rotation, Endrick seemed to be off to a flying start in the French top flight.
Yet his manager Paulo Fonseca decided to single him out and publicly blast a 19 year old forward on loan from a more powerful club in European football in what can only be described as a blatant move to find a scapegoat and create a media distraction.
Because the reality is that Lyon had not won a single game since February 15, making it nearly two months to the day since their last victory when they took on Lorient on Friday night in Ligue 1 action. And before the match, Fonseca left Endrick out of the starting lineup as punishment - for what exactly, nobody knows - and instead decided to start Rachid Ghezzal. Yes, yes, that guy.
Endrick made Paulo Fonseca eat his words
Well, Lyon won, but not as a result of any stroke of genius on Fonseca's part. No, Lyon won 2-0 over Lorient because Endrick came into the game in the second half and saved the day from the pure incompetence of his teammates, who had spent the past month squandering his chances and displaying almost an anaphlyactic allergy to passing their new best player the ball.
Endrick proved why he leads the team in key passes and dribbles completed per game by registering two key passes and three dribbles completed in just one half of football to dominate his teammates in the statistical column. And oh yeah, it was the Brazilian phenom who created the first goal of the game with an assist, now making it three goals and five assists in 11 Ligue 1 appearances.
Paulo Fonseca has more egg on his face than in his morning omlette. This failure of a coach who has been run out of more European clubs than trophies he has won in the top five leagues (zero, of course) is now on the verge of getting himself canned from another high profile job that he never deserved to have. (Seriously, how did Roma and AC Milan ever hire this guy?)
Not only did Fonseca disgrace his club by insulting a Real Madrid star on loan to them, but he also disgraced himself by going after a teenage kid who was actually putting most of his squad to shame. Endrick is their biggest key to victory, and he showed it, humbling Fonseca by doing more in 45 minutes than what his manager has done all season. Fonseca tried a power play with words, but Endrick let his skills on the pitch do the talking - and now, Fonseca has taken the first unofficial step towards his own demise in the beautiful city of Lyon.