Are expectations of Endrick too high? Fonseca calls for balance at Lyon | OneFootball

After a blistering start at Lyon, Endrick faces his first dip before hosting PFC at 20:45 on Sunday, with Paulo Fonseca moving to shield the 18-year-old. According to L'Équipe, workload and adaptation have become central talking points.

He impressed in the 2-3 at Marseille, but delivered below par at Strasbourg, 1-3 on 22 February, and against Lens, 2-2 then 4-5 on penalties on Thursday, when OL exited the Coupe de France.

The Brazil international has five goals and four assists in nine appearances, yet he has now started nine of Lyon’s last 10 matches and averaged more than 84 minutes. He missed Nice on 15 February through suspension. Before arriving, he played only 99 minutes across the final six months of 2025 at Real Madrid.

Against Lens he was repeatedly asked to run in behind Malang Sarr or Ismaëlo Ganiou, but often wanted the ball to feet and was contained, with his link to team-mates cut off. His positioning improved after the break.

Prolonged spells without service saw him drop towards Roman Iaremtchouk, drifting from his zone. On Thursday his touch and finishing fell short of his usual level.

Fonseca said Lyon must manage both Iaremtchouk and Endrick carefully given long-term absences to Pavel Sulc, Malick Fofana, Ernest Nuamah and Afonso Moreira. He urged a more measured judgement of the teenager, arguing it is unrealistic to expect him to decide matches alone and that he is not the solution to all Lyon’s problems.

Source: L'Équipe