Amando Lapage did not start as expected, but he was able to play just half an hour this Thursday in the Belgian Cup. Beginnings that call for much more.
This was our big surprise at the kick-off of RUTB-RSCA: noLoving Lapagedespite his presence in the group. David Hubert preferred to line up Zanka and Simic together, probably to rework some automatisms that had been failing in recent weeks in the championship.
The grandson of Paul Van Himst was, however, able to replace Jan-Carlo Simic when the score was established. A solid twenty minutes, with a defensive return in particular after Zanka lost the ball, but which naturally cannot say much about Lapage’s future in the A team.
Théo Leoni’s advice
“He deserved to make his debut. And he did well, even if the yellow card he took too quickly is a negative point,” smiled David Hubert after the match. “We can count on him, like every player in our squad and he is one of them. He is a boy we follow very closely.”
Theo Leoniwho knew him well in the U21 team and knows that the transition from U21 to the A team can sometimes take longer than expected, had only positive things to say about Amando Lapage. “I’m very happy for him, he’s waited a long time. He’s a real Neerpde guy, he has the perfect style to play for Anderlecht,” assures the midfielder.
The former captain of the Anderlecht Espoirs also took his troubles patiently at the time. “For some, it takes more time, step by step. Amando has been patient a lot, he listens, he works hard. I knew him when he started and I often watch the U23s this season: so I see that he has made a lot of progress”, believes Leoni, who sees his former youth protégé as a potential future starter.
“Yes, it’s possible that he will start at Sporting one day, he has the build. He has progressed enormously in recent years, in his placement, his timing… He has taken on another dimension”, assures Théo Leoni. “Now it’s up to him to do the job on the pitch. He may not be a diamond in the rough like Zeno Debast but some can have greater careers than more talented players through hard work. And He’s got talent, he’s a great football player.”
One thing is certain: now that Amando Lapage has tasted the A team, he will hope, even secretly, to play again as quickly and as often as possible. Without playing time, nothing excludes a departure at the end of the season…
