With the international break coming to an end, players are gradually returning to the dynamics of their respective teams. For Atlético de Madrid, many key players received the call from their national coaches and were absent from the training sessions. Some of them had extra resting days due to the effort made in the international matches, but Simeone has already reinstated several players who were committed last week to their national teams.
Despite having significant absences in the sessions at Cerro del Espino , Cholo had a cast of great footballers with whom he has tried different things. Koke , Marcos Llorente and Rodrigo Riquelme were some of the Atlético players who were not called up and worked with Diego Pablo Simeone at Atlético de Madrid during these days. In addition to these regular starters, Simeone tried different things by including players in his formations who had not yet had a place in them, such as the recently incorporated Clement Lenglet.
Clement Lenglet in Cholo's schemes
The Frenchman has been training well for a few days with the rest of his teammates and adapting to what Simeone asks of him. The Argentine has tried out his new left-footed centre-back in this morning's training session and has been pleasantly surprised by the good level shown by the French player. With that position being an unknown in this Atlético , in which there are several names capable of occupying it, Lenglet wants to make a place for himself and earn the trust of his new coach.
The transfer from FC Barcelona benefits an Atlético de Madrid team that lacks a pure left-back, a role that Lenglet has played on a regular basis. The '15' at the Rojiblancos could be facing a golden opportunity this Sunday if he makes it into the starting 11 , where he has been tested this morning. At the expense of being able to continue giving his best version in training, Lenglet does not want to put on the brakes and is eager to get minutes in a team where he wants to be important.
The Phoenix
Lenglet used to be one of the best centre-backs in the competition during his time at Sevilla , being a powerful and talented defender in equal measure at Nervión . This performance earned him a move to FC Barcelona , where he dropped considerably in form several years ago, leaving the Blaugrana on repeated loans for the Premier League . Eager to recover the form he showed at Sevilla , Lenglet is ready to show everyone that he can still be the great defender he was at his beginnings in LaLiga .
Evolution with Simeone
As he said on the day of his official presentation, Clement Lenglet sees in his new coach a manager who "makes you grow as a person and as a player." The Frenchman is delighted to be able to play under Diego Pablo Simeone, whom he admires and wants to please with his football and his enormous dedication. Ready to take advantage of the opportunities that are given to him, Lenglet hopes that these signs of a starting role this Sunday become reality against Valencia .