Luis Henrique is gradually gaining minutes at OM even if his room for improvement remains significant.

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Daniel Cole / AP / SIPA

  • Luis Henrique, 19, arrived this summer at Olympique de Marseille from Botafogo, against 8 million euros.

  • After a start to the season during which he played little, the winger nibbles more and more minutes of play.

  • But his trainer, Jorge Sampaoli, wants him to have "more development"

His smile widened as his playing minutes accumulated.

The young Brazilian Luis Henrique, only 19 years old, is gradually making his way to Olympique de Marseille.

He started against Dijon during his team's last 2-0 victory in Ligue 1, without being necessarily thunderous, in a piston position on the left side.

"I feel good, on the other hand it's a new position for me, I hope to improve as much as possible in the future", he confided in a press conference.

This season is that of adaptation for the former Botafogo player, who arrived in Marseille last summer against 8 million euros.

“At the beginning, it was very difficult.

I had never been out of the country.

But the club helped me a lot, with people coming to help me in my process.

I have improved, I am calmer, more at ease.

I manage to communicate, dribble, work and I adapt better and better, ”he relishes.

"I knew the time to play was coming"

The first months of complicated adaptation, with little playing time. Until being sent to coal against Porto in the Champions League (2-0 defeat), as a first tenure with André Villas-Boas.

“At the beginning when I arrived, I didn't have the opportunity to play a lot.

But I stepped up the training, because I knew the time to play was coming.

Since then I have had these opportunities to play, to show what I can do.

I am very happy to help the team and to play, ”admits Luis Henrique.

Already more prominent with Nasser Larguet, with a first decisive pass delivered for his first start in Ligue 1 against Nice (3-2), he continues his progress with Jorge Sampaoli.

Like his remarkable entry against Brest and two assists in 13 minutes to offer victory to his team on the wire (3-1).

“He's a very good teacher, he helps us a lot, encourages us a lot.

He has a very hard way of training, it's hard in the intensity of the workouts but I like the way he works.

It's a new experience, especially with regard to positioning.

I have to improve to put more pressure on the opposing players, but I'm doing the best I can and I'm confident in the job, ”he explained.

In addition to the adaptation to European football - "a faster, more intense game, more technical training, other ways of working, and the wet lawn" - Luis Henrique has often been lugged to the front of the attack .

AVB had also recognized the error of the club to recruit him as a striker, he who likes to devour the spaces on the sides.

“A leading forward, it's a position in which I haven't played a lot.

It's a different position, the ball comes slower than to the side.

I like to have the balls in the feet, to play with.

If I train more, it shouldn't be a problem to play in this position, but I really like playing on the sides, ”he recalled.

"He will have to adapt his personality"

If the pressure linked to his transfer and to the expectations of the supporters - "the history of football works like that, but I keep a cool head with the desire to play with as much happiness and joy as possible" - can weigh heavily. , Luis Henrique knows that he has to work: "I lack a little confidence, especially on the" one against one ", I have to be stronger when I get close to the opposing goal and it is above all a question of confidence .

"

But Jorge Sampaoli, he would like to see clearly more.

“Luis Henrique was quite interesting when he came into the game to help.

It was a little harder for him to tell the difference when he started.

A player like that, given his youth and his responsibility to wear a jersey like OM, must have a more important development.

He is a player who knows how to win side duels, and who must play to help the whole team.

He will have to adapt his personality to play with this demanding jersey that is that of OM ”.

A pressure surge at the height of its potential.

Sport

OM-Dijon: "It will take time", despite the victory, the Sampaoli effect is slow to materialize in Marseille

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