With the disappointment that was the non-signing of Hancko and the arrival of Lenglet as on loan, few were betting on the situation experienced by the defense of the Atlético. The Frenchman arrived as the last center back behind Le Normand, Giménez, Azpilicueta, Witsel or Reinildo. It aimed to take the place of the non-renewed Beautifulbut far from taking, from the beginning, the role that the Romanist had today.
Being the penultimate signing to arrive, he took a while to make his debut and when he did it was more out of obligation than out of conviction from a coaching staff that has Le Normand and Giménez as permanent and the rest for what may happen. But football is capricious and at the highest level, even more so. Lenglet took advantage of his opportunity, played against the Royal Society and he showed that when taking the ball there are few as precise as him. Sure in duels, he gives peace of mind to his team even if he lacks some forcefulness.
But you can polish those details in the Princes Park. In the stadium where he dreamed of playing so much, he was a fan of the PSG as a child, according to what his father revealed to The Parisianwill be the leader of a defense that will miss Giménez yes Lenglet It doesn't remedy it. The Frenchman has turned his situation around, winning Simeonebut the most difficult thing is missing. Shine in the highest continental competition without Josema.
PSG fan
To the sporting difficulties it will add Lenglet the emotional obstacles that may be found in Paris. Go back to the Champions League two seasons after playing it with him Tottenhamhe must shine in his country after being away from the Selection from 2021 and, as if that were not enough, in the Princes Park He suffered one of his worst nights as a professional. Being a culé, in the round of 16 of the 2021 – 2022 season, the Blaugrana reached Paris after the 1-4 received in the Barcelona City. Lenglet He had played the entire duel and it was clear that the chances of advancing to the quarterfinals were minimal. But they were left at zero when the former Barcelona player committed an absurd penalty on Icardi that transformed Mbappé. The appointment was one to forget and since then, his trajectory has been on a clear downward line.
This match also had a parallel with the one that the Atlético this Wednesday. And it is that Ronald Koemanthen coach of Barcelonaopted to stand up to PSG with a formation of three centre-backs, four players in the middle, two interiors and a forward. The same scheme as Simeone rehearsed before him Vicimplemented against The Palms and aims to design on the board to beat the Parisians.
