Last Saturday, in the knockout stages of the Champions League against Naples, Clément Lenglet scored the second goal of his Champions League career with a head full of determination. His first in the blaugrana jersey in the queen of European competitions. And overall, against the dangerous Dries Mertens or Lorenzo Insigne, the French central defender achieved a very solid performance to allow Barça to win (3-1) and avoid a major crisis, which would not be missing to arise in the event of elimination at this stage of the competition. Instead, the Catalans are preparing to challenge Bayern Munich (9 p.m., RMC Sport) this Friday, the favorite of this 2020 edition in the eyes of many observers. A Bavarian formation carried by its prolific striker Robert Lewandowski, that will try to extinguish Lenglet at the Luz stadium traditionally reserved for Benfica.
Lenglet, anything but bling-bling
A mission that promises to be particularly difficult but which offers a great opportunity for Lenglet to establish itself definitively within the Blaugrana workforce. Not that the native of Beauvais plays the utilities there, far from it. With 28 starts this season in La Liga, the 25-year-old defender has established himself as the number 1 complement to the timeless Gerard Piqué. Except that some mockers believe that he owes this promotion more to the recurring physical problems of his teammate and compatriot Samuel Umtiti than to his own level of play. A very severe judgment, symbolic of the lack of recognition from which he still suffers even as the quality of its services should be more than enough to silence the skeptics. Starting with his coach, Quique Setién, who has left him on the bench six times in La Liga this season. Perhaps this is due to his too introverted character, he who said in Le Parisien "not to be in the bling-bling". Almost an anachronism in modern football.
“My last nightclub outing was three or four years ago, and it was during the holidays. I must have missed a lot of parties, but that doesn't bother me. "
Clement LengletSo, in the same interview, when asked whether he was not too serious, Lenglet admitted, without denying himself: “A lot of people tell me that. Even in the locker room, some tell me I should enjoy it a bit more. But I've been like this since I was little. And I am certainly there too thanks to this seriousness (…) My last nightclub outing was three or four years ago, and it was during the holidays. I must have missed a lot of parties, but that doesn't bother me. " A discretion that is found even in its course. Having left Nancy in January 2017 to discover La Liga within Sevilla FC, even though he had only played 18 Ligue 1 matches with the Lorraine club where he was trained, Lenglet did not need a adaptation time by immediately establishing itself as a starter in a team used to targeting the Top 5 in Spain. And after a year and a half, another unexpected turn, the central defender signs for 35 million euros in Barcelona. Without the slightest selection on the clock and after a visit to the Hopes without any real relief.
On this day 2️⃣ years ago, @clement_lenglet was introduced as a Barça player ❤️pic.twitter.com / IwwefEuwoH
- FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 13, 2020A choice that seemed to condemn him to the sidelines. But it was not knowing Lenglet well. Patiently, the former Nancy has made his mark in the Catalan locker room, yet not the easiest to live with as demonstrated this season the (great) difficulties of Antoine Griezmann to impose himself there. Without making any noise, he won 22 tenures for his first season. Before confirming during the exercise which ended a fortnight ago with a disappointing second place for Barcelona, dispossessed of its throne by Real Madrid. Without the responsibility of Lenglet being called into question since it appears in the Top 5 of a poll carried out by Marca to determine the best players of the Catalan formation this season. The Frenchman is only preceded by goalkeeper Marc-André Ter Stegen, the essential Lionel Messi and the revelations Riqui Puig and Ansu Fati. Almost an achievement for a player who landed at Camp Nou by the back door, without the slightest international reference.
A desire to win for a long time in Barcelona
Yet Lenglet's name continues to be escorted by doubts. As recurrent as they are incomprehensible. But the main interested party knows what he wants, even if some rumors send him to the four corners of Europe during the summer transfer window. “I try to work to do things in the best possible way,” he told BeIN Sports. I work every day to develop myself on a personal level. Listening to the veterans and helping the younger ones, I'm working to win titles here. I would love to stay here for many years. With what happened, we think about football and then we will see what to do regarding my renewal. ” A contract extension that is in no hurry since he is linked to Barça until June 2023. But if he succeeds in a great Final 8 in Lisbon, Lenglet could see in a revaluation of his status the fair recognition of the work he has accomplished in recent seasons. This would allow him, too, to come out of the shadows to taste the light.
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