LYON WINGER MEMPHIS Depay “needs love” even if he can sometimes prove frustrating to watch for president Jean-Michel Aulas.
Depay replaced Houssem Aouar in the 72nd minute with Lyon clinging on to a 2-1 lead at home to Villarreal in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie on Thursday.
He irritated the home fans by mishitting a rabona cross after a string of sublime skills saw him bring the ball under control on the left and spin away from Mario Gaspar.
The Netherlands international made up for it two minutes later, though, when he slammed Lyon’s third goal into the bottom-left corner to secure a more comfortable lead ahead of the return match at the Estadio de la Ceramica.
While Aulas confessed Depay’s antics on the pitch can lead to exasperation, he knows the 24-year-old is a player that needs nurturing.
“I told him we like him a lot. He’s a boy who needs love. He’s able to change a match at any time, like he did against Paris,” said the Lyon president, referencing Depay’s phenomenal 94th-minute winner against Paris Saint-Germain in January.
“He made amazing technical moves, some helping the club and the result, and sometimes frustrating us.
“With his technique, he brings things that have rarely been seen in Lyon. With his personality, we can only love him, even if sometimes he frustrates us.”
Head coach Bruno Genesio warned his side they cannot sit back in Spain and must look to cancel out the away goal secured by Villarreal.
“It’s still 50-50 for qualification,” said Genesio. We won the first match, but I also think it will be necessary to score there for us to qualify.
“We can score many goals at home and away. We must keep our philosophy.”
- Omni
Wonder does he ever regret going to Manchester United he was better off going to a club that would develop and mould him into a great player
@Jamie Smith: I didn’t laugh at your ‘joke’ the other day, but I made up for it by laughing at this comment instead. Keep up the good work!
@Stephen Lyons: I’m surprised it took him so long to comment his ‘anything Utd notifications must be turned off
@Jamie Smith: For every Depay there’s a David DeGea. Some feel the hard works done when they sign the contract and others know it’s just beginning. He’s a terrible attitude
@Ray Taff: United will probably buy him back in a few years,when he gets a new hairdo!
@Seamus Mc Meel: you’re a gas man to be slagging someone about their ‘ hairdo’ looked in the mirror lately
@Jamie Smith: I’d say he regrets not taking the opportunity he was given by Utd don’t you think
Needed a run of games in his correct position at United. Proper talent.
@Aaron O’Sullivan: I think if anything this article proves that United weren’t the problem in this situation, Depay was.
@Stephen Lyons: the problem with footballers today is that they don’t need to be successful now to earn stupid amounts of money
Mishitting??wtf
@Aubameyang Doherty: did you read miss shitting instead of miss hitting like me as well.