Former Belgium U21 national team coach Johan Walem has urged AC Milan to sign Lois Openda and also stick with Charles De Ketelaere.
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Openda is one of the rumoured targets, and he has played and won together with a current Milan player: Alexis Saelemaekers. It was back in November 2019 at the Dreisamstadion in Freiburg that Belgium beat Germany 3-2 with a brace from Openda, who is now in the Rossoneri’s sights.
One of the two assists came from Alexis. The two played together in the U21s and on the bench was Johan Walem, a midfielder who moved to Udinese, Parma and Torino, at the helm of the U21 Belgian side from 2016 to 2020, and before that from 2012 to 2015.
He gave an interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport about the links between Milan and Openda, while he also offered some advice on De Ketelaere.
Tell us about Openda…
“He’s a first striker who attacks space, fast as the wind. And then he scores. The beauty is that before he scored little. Now he’s another player.”
What kind of difficulties did he have?
“Maybe self-esteem. In Belgium he didn’t play much. Philippe Clement was at Brugge at the time, today at Monaco. He doesn’t bet much on young people, so Lois was right to leave. It was enough for him to go and play for two years in Holland to demonstrate to everyone the talent that she is.”
Would Milan be making an astute signing?
“Surely. Of course, Ligue 1 is not Serie A, but in modern football someone with his speed makes the difference. He stuns opponents, gives no reference points. Compared to Origi and Giroud, he’s a different type of striker, Milan lacks a striker as quick as him.”
Off the pitch, what kind of man is he?
“Ambitious, fun. I remember the victory in Germany with the Under 21 team. He, Saelemaekers, Svilar, Vanheusden were there. Alexis was playing attacking midfielder at the time. We won 3-2 with a brace from Openda, but at the end of the game I sent him to hell with a smile. He asked me for a plate of fries. I told him no, he accepted it. He was eighteen.”
Why did De Ketelaere disappoint expectations?
“I must state that I didn’t coach him. In those days the Under 19 kept him close. He is a very shy, introverted boy. In Brygge he was served, revered and pampered, while in Milan he found himself facing a different environment. Openda is different…”
Explain to us how?
“He’s outgoing and has classic chutzpah. He just wants to play and score. In Brugge he didn’t play, but it didn’t matter to him: he packed his bags and left.”
Should Milan insist with Charles?
“Obviously yes. Although perhaps he could perform better as a right winger, free from marking. Already there I see him and Openda. One produces assists, the other scores. If Milan take him, they’ll make a real shot.”
No more belgians please. Only one who is decent at best us Saele…
So he call up CDK for RW position?
‘in Brygge he was served, revered and pampered.’
This says a lot..
Ok, this guy says that CDK would be better off at the right wing, we can see based on CDK’s heat map that he moved mostly on the wings at Brugge, we could also see that he isn’t a n10 from his performances at Milan, so whose genius idea was to sign CDK for the n10 spot?
Imo CDK needs to play as a striker. He is 6’4. He isn’t beating anyone on the wing with that size. Plus he is constantly trying to set up on his left foot, which makes him slow and predictable.
Put him at the top, teach him how to play off of the CBs, how to move between the lines, and exploit open spaces.
He’s got the build of a striker not a winger
How can he be a striker in a hard league? Yes he’s tall but he’s weaker than Brahim.. there’s no way this guy can do proper hold up play and use strength.. secondly if he’s not strong then hopefully hes fast right? Which he isnt.. he isn’t explosive enough to beat people with his first step. Honestly the only place he may fit in a top league is AM or CM. Yeah he can play ST or RW in Belgium but not in a good league.
You can do something about getting stronger, not much out there you can do to get faster. With enough practice and proper teachings you can learn how to hold up play. Anything can be learned, he is still just 22
Weaker than Brahim? Against inter, he can hold the ball better than Brahim.
I have said this time and time again, CDK should be a box player.
He’s 6ft 4in. It’s very, very easy for him with that frame and size to learn how to use his body. When Van Basten arrived, they said he was too skinny, he filled out and become a monster. Shevchenko was a brick when he walked through the door. CDK has the tools. His vision, his positioning and his ability to turn are all there, it’s a case of bringing it together.
exactly, finally someone that sees it. His only half decent games this year were against Torino (ST) and Fiorentina (LW)
“So whose genius idea was to sign CDK for the n10 spot”?
I’m guessing that this was a rhetorical question but I’ll take the bait.
It was Maldini who did, but I think there’s a justifiable reason for trying CDK in that position. I just didn’t think it was the right time to try him there because he needed time to adjust, and therefore, should’ve been used in his preferred position. So basically, he should’ve been used as a sub to give Giroud some rest.
Bayern Munich and France both use a 4-2-3-1 formation. I’m using these teams as examples because of the success they’ve had using the same formation as Milan. Both teams use a second striker in the position behind the striker, in Thomas Mueller and Antoine Greizmann respectively. So, a claim can be made that a second striker can be used in the n10 with some success. They both use conventional strikers, who will usually drop deep to hold up play, to allow others to advance further up the pitch to attack. I believe that the reason for the success of the second striker in that role is because they take more advantage of the space left by the striker when he drops deep or moves around. CDK is actually a second striker, so I get the reasoning behind it.
The fault is more from Pioli and gis staff that didn’t work eith him physically,technically and correct his weaknesses,last more important he need ti be protected and supported mentally this Is Milan hiw many players succeeded in the first season not Tonaly not t salesmakers not Diaz not Leao specialy the last two they took 3years to shine even if diaz need Like cdk to learn from his stupid mistakes like entering in physical situations when u have other solutions like using a visionary passe or sommething better
We all have seen him in front of goals with big chances this season right? And it’s been a disaster to say the least. Yes, he’s tall, but that’s it. He can’t jump properly and his header is odd. And don’t let us start talking about his body balance and strength..
I believe on CDK
He’s 6ft 4in. It’s very, very easy for him with that frame and size to learn how to use his body. When Van Basten arrived, they said he was too skinny, he filled out and become a monster. Shevchenko was a brick when he walked through the door. CDK has the tools. His vision, his positioning and his ability to turn are all there, it’s a case of bringing it together.