Clément Lenglet Seizes Opportunity at Aston Villa

Until December 22, Clément Lenglet hadn’t played a single minute in the Premier League. “Recruited” by Unai Emery for his ambitious project at Aston Villa in August, the French defender had seen limited opportunities under the Basque manager. With the central pairing of Pau Torres and Diego Carlos well-established, the situation was becoming worrisome for Lenglet. With no place at Barcelona and a decent loan spell at Tottenham, the objective for the Catalan club was to free up his high salary. Birmingham’s team emerged as the most beneficial (and almost the only) alternative. Until that almost Christmas date, Emery had only given him chances in Conference League matches, all of which he played in full.

WIDE-OPEN DOOR AFTER INJURY However, Pau Torres’s injury in December opened a door that Lenglet did not want to miss. The first game against Sheffield United (1-1, 90 minutes) was like uncorking the champagne, revealing the essence. In the seven games that followed, he started in all of them—three wins, three draws, and two losses, conceding eight goals in those eight consecutive games played. Acceptable numbers for a Villa side sitting fourth in the Premier League and set to replay the FA Cup round of 16 against Chelsea.

“I want to keep Lenglet at Villa for the second half of the season,” Emery stated before the Sheffield United clash, which undoubtedly marked his stay in Birmingham. “Tomorrow (Friday, against Sheffield United), he will play. I’m really looking forward to seeing him, and I am convinced he can help us.”

WAITING ON PAU TORRES Pau Torres’s ankle injury has opened up a new opportunity for Clément. We will see when the Spanish defender returns to action after his excellent first third of the season. In principle, tonight, in the FA Cup replay against Chelsea, he will be on the bench.