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Anderlecht Coach Vanhaezebrouck Defends Onyekuru’s Winger Role
Hein Vanhaezebrouck, Anderlecht’s coach, has offered a staunch defense of his strategic choice to position Super Eagles striker, Henry Onyekuru, as a winger rather than a central forward. Vanhaezebrouck contends that the 20-year-old is not yet equipped to lead the club’s attack and emphasizes the need to afford Onyekuru more freedom on the pitch to showcase his abilities.
In the initial phase of the season, Onyekuru was deployed as a center forward and second striker in four consecutive games against Oostende, Sporting Charleroi, St. Truiden, and Gent but struggled to make a significant impact. Acknowledging the challenges, Vanhaezebrouck commented to Nieuwsblad.be, “He was lost in that top position and did not know how to ask for the ball. That’s why I sent him back to the flanks.”
Despite experiencing a goal drought in his last six games, Onyekuru has previously found the net seven times in 18 appearances across all competitions for Anderlecht this season. His versatility and goal-scoring prowess have contributed significantly to Anderlecht’s campaign.
Vanhaezebrouck acknowledged Onyekuru’s aspirations to participate in the upcoming World Cup with Nigeria, emphasizing the necessity for him to perform at a high level for Anderlecht to realize that dream.
As Anderlecht prepares to face Royal Excel Mouscron in the Belgian Jupiler League clash on Saturday, Onyekuru is expected to feature prominently, highlighting the coach’s continued confidence in the young Nigerian talent. Currently occupying the third position in the Belgian Jupiler table with 25 points from 14 games, Anderlecht remains poised for further success in the league.
