Pressure has accompanied Lois Openda all his life. It started shortly after birth, when asthma almost took away his breath. A year in the hospital and an operation followed. The doctors did not trust him to take part in competitive sports later on. Then, against all odds, when he was by far the fastest player in Standard Liege's academy, the next problem came. Openda could not afford the membership fees. A teammate helped out and the career continued.
The path led him in the summer to Leipzig, where the pressure also could not have been greater. Never before did the Saxons spend so much money (up to 45 million euros) on a player. Never before has a newcomer had to fill such big shoes, namely those of the top scorer Christopher Nkunku, who moved to Chelsea. Never has a Leipzig transfer dragged on so long, the negotiations between Lens and RB with umpteen rejected offers provided weeks of the best summer entertainment.
Openda was not impressed by this at all and goes on Wednesday (21.00 clock/DAZN) as Leipzig's top scorer in the pre-decisive game against Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League. If Leipzig wins, they can start planning for the round of 16 just halfway through the group stage. Five points ahead would be it at best already on place three.
