The two Nigerian strikers have struggled for goals at the start of the Belgian Jupiler League, but their boss is backing them to rediscover their best form in the coming days
KRC Genk’s Technical Director Dimitri De Conde admits that the duo of Cyriel Dessers and Paul Onuachu has not been in their best element so far this season. Still, he is confident that they both can beat the challenges in front of them and return to goalscoring ways.
Dessers made a surprise switch to Belgium earlier this summer after finishing the last campaign as the top goalscorer in the Eredivisie, netting 15 league goals for mid-table side Heracles Almelo.
The 25-year-old forward was expected to complement the efforts of Onuachu, who contributed nine goals in 22 appearances for Genk last season.
Both strikers did just that, combining to great effect and scoring a goal apiece in Genk’s excellent 2-1 come-from-behind win at Zulte-Waregem on the opening day of the season.
The duo has, however, not found the back of the net since, whether playing alone upfront or together, with Genk drawing against both OH Leuven and Standard Liege.
The Blue-White host champions Club Brugge on Sunday, and De Conde believes both Dessers and Onuachu need time to understand each other and give their best.
“Everyone is talking about the two-striker system, but we are not obliged to play with two strikers, are we? The trainer must above all find the right balance for the team,” Sporza quotes the Genk boss.
“Whether that is with two strikers or in a 4-3-3, we leave it to him. The fact that a striker has cost a lot of money should also not be a theme. The best will play, we are a top club.
“But as far as Onuachu and Dessers are concerned, don’t forget that they haven’t played together in the preparation.
“Onuachu had COVID-19, which left him physically behind. And let’s be realistic: every top striker duo needs some time to find automatisms.
“At the moment, the qualities of those attackers are not yet fully expressed. For example, Dessers must be able to find depth.”
Genk currently lies 8th on the league standing, having amassed five points from a possible nine in the first three games of the 2020/21 season.
