According to L'Équipe, since joining Olympique Lyonnais on loan from Juventus this season, 26-year-old Belgian forward Lois Openda has regained consistent playing time and confidence. After a difficult season at Juventus, he stated in an interview that he hopes to rediscover his goal-scoring form at Olympique Lyonnais and that he is now "very happy."

Reporter: After leaving Lens, you played two seasons at RB Leipzig. Why did you then choose to join Juventus? There was fierce competition in the forward line, and you even ended up playing as a left winger.

Openda: "I played two seasons at RB Leipzig (2023-2025). The first season was fantastic; I scored 28 goals and provided 7 assists across all competitions. We played in a 4-2-2-2 formation with very quick transitions. In the second season, we failed to qualify for European competition, finished seventh, and I scored 13 goals and provided 5 assists."

"In the first season, I was the central striker. In the second season, due to injuries to Xavi Simons and some other players, I had to operate more behind Benjamin Šeško. That wasn't my favorite position; I had to drop very deep and then run across the entire pitch. Then Marco Rose was sacked, and my relationship with his replacement didn't develop well either."

Reporter: Were you already considering leaving RB Leipzig in summer 2025?

Openda: "During the break, I spoke with Damien Comolli. He explained to me how he planned to use me in a league that isn't easy to play in. In Italy, Inter Milan is very effective at exploiting space in behind the defense, and Roma is also starting to pay more attention to this."

Reporter: Did you speak with the head coach at that time, Igor Tudor?

Openda: "The coach wanted me. However, at that time, Dušan Vlahović, Jonathan David, and Arkadiusz Milik were also competing for that position."

"I felt I fitted very well with Jonathan David. He's a very good player, technically excellent, and plays very unselfishly. I could make runs in behind, and he could drop deep to receive the ball. But the coach rotated his main players, and then he himself was sacked."

"The team wasn't used to using a player who constantly exploits space in behind the defense, and Vlahović is better at holding the ball. Because we weren't familiar with each other at first, we specifically trained those running movements in training. Of course, there were also times when I was deployed on the left wing."

Reporter: Did you mentally give up at that point?

Openda: "I kept fighting for my chances and sometimes got them. But toward the end of the season, I understood that if I wanted more playing time, I needed to look elsewhere."

"I worked with my sports psychologist on the cognitive aspects to be able to react to any situation. I never gave up; I was always ready to come on as a substitute at any moment. This mentality actually aligns with Juventus's DNA, because there, the goal is to win everything."

Reporter: Was joining Juventus a mistake?

Openda: "I didn't make a mistake. That experience allowed me to work on things I wouldn't have even considered before, like playing in a different position, or not being able to play even when I knew I was ready."

"Juventus is a very big European club, so mentally, you also have to be able to handle situations like that. I was very clear about what I chose at the time. I'm confident that in different circumstances, that experience would have gone much more smoothly."

"I don't regret my choice. If it was truly a mistake, I wouldn't be at Olympique Lyonnais today, because Olympique Lyonnais is also a very big club."

Reporter: This summer, Juventus wanted to sell you to England to generate more transfer revenue...

Openda: "For me, the most important aspect is the sporting side. My contract with Juventus runs until June 2030. I was looking for a place where I could make a fresh start, get playing time, and score goals."

"During the break, I spoke frequently with Fonseca. He really wanted me, and that was very decisive. From the beginning, I met with Matthieu (Sports Director Louis-Jean), and his approach was very clear. He acted personally and did everything he could."

"It's rare that I see someone work so hard to recruit a player. If I were Matthieu, I probably would have given up long ago. But he worked right up to the last day of my signing, and that showed me how much the club, management, and everyone wanted me here."

"I know I'll develop well here. My family has also been welcomed very warmly. I'm now in a very healthy environment and very happy with my choice."

Reporter: Were you surprised that you could be immediately involved in matches after joining Olympique Lyonnais?

Openda: "I trained a lot during the last 5 months when I wasn't playing in Turin, because I had to stay in shape and keep preparing myself for the World Cup."

"Even though I had a very poor season, I couldn't let my fitness drop too much because of it. This year in Italy wasn't right for me, but any player would want to go to Juventus, and a player's career can't be a straight line from start to finish; sometimes you just have to go through these things."

"I'd rather go through these things at age 26 and then bounce back."

Reporter: Did you accept not being selected for the World Cup squad?

Openda: "It really hurt me, because I had a feeling about it, and I saw a lot of comments about me saying I wasn't playing for my club."

"But after joining Olympique Lyonnais, I've proven that my body is in top condition; the only thing missing was match rhythm. You can look at all my data; I run 6 to 7 kilometers every day in training, and playing 60 minutes per match isn't a problem for me at all."

"I'm fortunate to have my family by my side. My second son was born in May, which allowed me to see things from a different perspective. I watched all the World Cup matches and then moved forward."

"The national team situation is special. At this stage, the most important thing for me is to do great things with Olympique Lyonnais. As for the Belgian national team, we'll see later."

Reporter: How do you view the start of your season?

Openda: "My physical condition allows me to play consistently. Although I'm not yet at 100% and could still improve, I won't push myself too hard."

"I always keep my hunger for goals, and that's the most important thing. Scoring my first goal for Olympique Lyonnais against Fenerbahçe felt like I had just scored a goal the day before."

"That's when I realized I hadn't lost my confidence; I had just entered a 'keep playing, keep moving forward' rhythm."

Reporter: How do you currently view Olympique Lyonnais's style of play, the club, and Fonseca?

Openda: "We have a very good squad with a good mix of veterans and young players, both in terms of talent and experience."

"Fonseca knows exactly what he wants and how to use his players, and he has a complete squad."

"I'm very clear about why I came here, because I know this team can help me develop, and I can also help the team."

"Our goal is to qualify for the Champions League. Now we have that opportunity again, and we have the ability to do it, so I want to give it everything."

"They've given me confidence and the chance to show my abilities again. I'm very happy here."

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