Endrick made his mark on his Lyon debut scoring the winner in their 2-1 cup win over Lille with an incredible solo goal from outside the box, proving once again the goal scoring ability he can bring to the table when given the chance. Endrick has a point to prove not only to Madrid, but also to himself and this is exactly the kind of start the Brazilian was hoping for.
Not only did he score the winner, he also dominated on the stat sheet, already proving to be a crucial player for the French side after just one game. For all the deep stat people out there, Endrick's stats against Lille were:
Endrick's Lyon Debut: | Stat: |
|---|---|
Minutes played: | 72 |
Touches: | 32 |
Fouls won: | 2 |
Tackles: | 1 |
Long balls: | 2/2 |
Recoveries: | 2 |
Duels won: | 8 |
Dribbles completed: | 3 |
Shots: | 6 |
Goals: | 1 |
For a 19-year-old who's barely had a kick of the ball this season, this is an all-around complete performance from the Brazilian, the kind that Real Madrid need from their center forward, but he just wasn't given a fair chance to show it. Endrick has now scored in all of his La Liga, Champions League, Copa del Rey, and now Lyon debut, showing the impact he makes on the pitch.
Endrick proved exactly why Real Madrid should've never let him go
While speaking with the media after the match, Endrick discussed how pleased he was with the result and how excited he is for the rest of the season with Lyon:
"My first two weeks at Lyon have gone really well! I’m so happy!Endrick
I scored in my first match and we won — I’m very pleased. I’m settling in, I feel at home. Thanks to the staff and my teammates.
Lyon's style of play suits me perfectly, it reminds me of the way Palmeiras play.
I told the coach that I’m ready to play in any position to help the team.
I just want to win matches with OL and help the team — whether that’s with assists, goals, or defensive work."
I think it's safe to say we all hope Endrick succeeds during his loan spell at Lyon. He is clearly a player of incredible talent at such a young age and he deserves the playing time that he wasn't getting at Real Madrid. He's still only 19-years-old and has his whole career ahead of him and still has plenty of time to come back to Real Madrid and make an impact with the club he loves.
Madrid have a option in his loan deal to recall Endrick before January 20th. Whether the club take this up remains to be seen following Xabi Alonso's departure.