The crossroads between Lenglet and Umtiti at club and international level
Lenglet's role at Barça is in stark contrast to the situation he finds himself in with France
"Lenglet is very efficient but doesn't have any experience at international level." This is what the French coach, Didier Deschamps, said when asked why Clement Lenglet hadn't been selected for the latest round of matches.
The former Sevilla defender wasn't picked due to his lack of international experience. This coming across rather strange as the only man who can give him the said experience is Deschamps.
Lenglet has handled the expectation levels at a club as big as Barça and performed in the Champions League. The centre back has become the first choice partner of Gerard Pique and he's done this at the young age of 23.
In the absence of Samuel Umtiti, Lenglet has stepped up and delivered. He's more positionally sound than Umtiti. Lenglet fits well in an organised backline, is solid in the air and good with the ball at his feet. He's someone that isn't a 9/10 at one particular thing but is a 7/10 across the board.
Right now, it appears unlikely that Umtiti will be able to regain his place in the 'gala XI'.
The former Lyon man spent three months on the sidelines due to a troublesome knee injury which was only aggravated by his decision to go to the World Cup. "I took the risk because a World Cup is only every four years. I was forced to. That's why this season has been complicated. I don't regret making that decision," he confessed to 'Telefoot'.
In France his experience remains the esame. Deschamps doesn't want to shake up his selections and less so the players who helped lift the World Cup. Umtiti played through the pain and now his coach is handing him a starting spot.
