Umtiti: Endrick Needs to Understand He Can't Do It Alone
A World Cup winner's blunt message to Brazil's brightest young talent — Umtiti calls out Endrick's selfishness as Lyon's struggles continue.
Ligue 1
Samuel Umtiti has taken aim at his Lyon teammate Endrick, accusing the young Brazilian striker — on loan from Real Madrid — of being too selfish on the pitch. The teenager is going through a difficult spell, having struggled in the penalty shootout defeat to Lens in the French Cup, and was reduced to a substitute role in the 1-1 league draw with FC Paris, coming off the bench midway through the second half.
"We expect a lot from this player. When he first arrived, he showed he could be decisive. He demonstrated quality, especially in tight spaces, and gave the impression he could play as part of a team. Lately, it seems like he's struggling to find his place on the pitch. His connection with the rest of the squad isn't as strong," the former Barcelona defender told Radio Monte Carlo.
"You can see that he has a desperate need to score. The moment he gets the ball, his first instinct is to shoot. What worries me is that he was already doing this at Real Madrid. When he came to Lyon, I thought he had understood that it wasn't the right approach. He needs to change that — he needs to understand that he can't do it without his teammates. What he's doing isn't helping him," added the 2018 World Cup winner.
Lyon have now gone four matches without a win, and Fonseca's side face a demanding week ahead — they travel to Celta Vigo in the Europa League round of 16, before heading to Le Havre in the league.
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