On August 7, Joachim Andersen came into play against Cristiano Ronaldo's Juventus to preserve OL's qualification (1-0, 1-2) for Final 8. -
Antonio Calanni / AP / SIPA
During the summer of 2019, OL thought they had (finally) found their great central defender, by signing the revelation of Sampdoria Joachim Andersen for a record sum of 30 million euros (bonus included).
The 24-year-old Dane had a very complicated first season, with 28 starts often marked by his excitement.
Faced with rumors sending him by October 5 to Torino,
20 Minutes
discusses with two of his former trainers, his difficulties and his prospects in Lyon, which moves Sunday (5 p.m.) to Lorient.
Is Joachim Andersen the first player in history to announce his transfer via a surprising Instagram poll?
Tuesday evening, the central defender of OL in any case voted in favor of his departure by October 5 in Torino.
So, trolling or real trend at a time when several Italian media believe the transaction is on track?
A member of the entourage of the 24-year-old Dane is categorical: “Joachim is often questioned in discussions with supporters like this one on social networks.
For fun, he wanted to see the results of this poll.
You don't have to look for a meaning for your future in there ”.
Obviously Andersen wants to join Torino @youngjouster @journalistemas @ Olimas99 @ johol69 pic.twitter.com/foAyETGQY4
- KING-LACAZETTE (@Kevlebesgue) September 22, 2020
However, the track of his departure from this summer transfer window seems serious as it did not win in Lyon, a year after leaving Sampdoria (Serie A) for 30 million euros (including 6 million bonus euros).
He has been established 28 times (in all competitions) for 14 months and he has never made himself indispensable.
The great European adventure of the Lyonnais this summer, between Turin and Lisbon, was also systematically based on a defensive triplet Denayer-Marcelo-Marçal.
"I always thought he would need time in Ligue 1"
"I am convinced that Joachim is a top player," says René S. Andersen, his coach in the U17 category at FC Midtjylland (Denmark).
I note that the whole Lyon team has been disappointing overall in the league and that obviously everyone expected more from the biggest transfer in the club's history.
“Because his regular meatballs, as in Nantes (3-4) and especially in Bordeaux (1-2) in January, crystallize a feverishness which amazes his former trainer.
“I admit that I don't understand why he was sometimes so hesitant last season, sighs René S. Andersen.
But when you miss your debut and chain a few mistakes, doubt enters the minds of everyone, your partners, your coach and yourself.
"
Technical director of FC Twente (Netherlands), where the Dane played from 2013 to 2017, Ted van Leeuwen is not really surprised by this so difficult adaptation: “I always thought he would need time seen as attackers are explosive in Ligue 1 and there is a lot more space behind defenders than in Italy.
If OL are patient, everyone will see that Joachim's quality is not in question.
But a club like this has no time.
"
An Emanuel Mammana 2.0?
Transferred in 2017 to the Zenith Saint Petersburg, only one season after arriving in Lyon, the Argentine international defender Emanuel Mammana knows something about it.
Like him, Joachim Andersen arrived in Ligue 1 with a reputation as a technical player and an excellent raiser.
The Lyon supporters were not really able to realize it over time as Marcelo quickly got the favors of Rudi Garcia, after the dismissal of Sylvinho in October.
Ted van Leeuwen has his explanation on this.
Sometimes there is this kind of collateral damage in football.
Rudi Garcia is not the coach who recruited him and very few players remain very confident in themselves when they feel they are not the first choice of their coach.
Look at De Ligt's poor start at Juve, and Kepa's current level at Chelsea… Nothing is normal in that and it all has to do with confidence.
"
A crisis of confidence which also penalizes the ambitions of the person concerned with the Danish selection.
Systematically retained in the group at each international break, the defender of 1.93 m has indeed only one cape with the A, blocked by the doublet Simon Kjaer (AC Milan) -Andreas Christensen (Chelsea).
"I see in him the future captain of the national team and I imagined of course already having more luck last season," said René S. Andersen.
From @fcmidtjylland to @sampdoria via @fctwente, @ 20Minutes introduces you to @OL's new recruit Joachim Andersen.
"I will not be satisfied if he does not play a Champions League final in his career," announces the CEO of Midtjylland https://t.co/OUzHBQ2aP0
- Jérémy Laugier (@JeremyLaugier) July 12, 2019
"Sometimes you have to take a step back in your career"
Joachim Andersen already had a similar stalemate two years ago, having played just seven Serie A games in his first season at Sampdoria.
What to hang on to Lyon, even if it should start again on the bench Sunday (5 p.m.) in Lorient?
“I do not see him as a player who will give up like that, continues his former coach in U17.
With his history in Italy, he has proven he can bounce back after a near-blank season.
But if he feels he is still leaving as number 3 or number 4 in the coach's mind, then he might not be fighting.
"
For Ted van Leeuwen, the hypothesis of a departure really makes sense today: "The situation is different compared to the summer of 2018, in particular because expectations are much higher around him than they were. at Sampdoria.
At 24, he really needs to play and if it has to be at a lesser club in Italy, too bad.
He knows Serie A suits him very well.
Sometimes you have to take a step back in your career in order to take three steps forward later ”.
Sport
OL-OGC Nice: Joachim Andersen and Kasper Dolberg challenge each other in a duel between Danes "with very different characters"
Sport
OL: For Joachim Andersen, "if you don't have the ambition to be champion, you're not in the right place in Lyon"
Lyon
Denmark
Sport
OL
League 1
OL Mercato
Soccer