Openda calls out one Juventus teammate for being a reason he struggled | OneFootball

Lois Openda is currently on loan at Lyon from Juventus after spending just one season on the books of the Bianconeri, and the striker appears to view Dusan Vlahovic as one of the reasons he struggled in Turin.

Juventus were confident they had signed a top player when Openda joined them on loan with an obligation to make the move permanent last season. He had been superb at RB Leipzig, where he established himself as one of the best attackers in Germany and attracted interest from several top clubs.

Openda struggled to find space

Juventus won the race for his signature and brought him to Turin to share the goalscoring responsibilities with Vlahovic and Jonathan David. Openda and David appeared to have a good relationship both on and off the pitch, and had they been given enough time to play together, they might have achieved more.

However, that opportunity never really came, with Luciano Spalletti preferring to use the Serbian despite knowing that Vlahovic had not signed a new contract. Vlahovic was a superb striker and suited the manager’s style, but Openda felt there were difficulties when it came to combining with the other attackers.

Openda has now identified this as one of the reasons he struggled in Turin. Tuttojuve quoted him as saying: “With Jonathan, we could play together, but there were tactical issues because I play a lot with depth, and Juve weren’t capable of expressing themselves that way. On top of that, Vlahovic rarely gave up the ball. I had a few chances, but as time went by, I was given less and less space, and in the end, I realized that if I wanted to play, I had to leave.”

(Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

Openda explains his decision

The comments suggest Openda felt that Juventus’ tactical approach limited his opportunities to demonstrate his qualities. His preference for making runs in behind did not always fit the way the team played, while the limited opportunities alongside David also affected his chances of establishing himself.

Openda ultimately decided that leaving was necessary if he wanted to play regularly. His loan move to Lyon now gives him another opportunity to regain his confidence and show the qualities that made him such a highly regarded attacker at RB Leipzig.

His experience at Juventus appears to have left him with a clear understanding of what he needs from his next club. For Openda, regular opportunities and a tactical system that suits his strengths could be important as he looks to rediscover his best form.