Former Aston Villa defender named in team of the week after long-awaited breakthrough

A year ago, Clement Lenglet was just on the verge of a breakthrough at Aston Villa. Until just before Christmas, the Frenchman had had to contend with only Europa Conference League minutes to satisfy him, not making his league debut until the home draw with Sheffield United which was in no small part down to the injuries to Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings.

Lenglet was perhaps a little cold initially, being asked to play every few days over the festive period having only previously had precious little competitive football under his belt. He did, though, warm to the demands in the New Year and ultimately played an important role in bridging the gap at the back for Unai Emery, as Villa ventured towards the Champions League.

There wasn't ever any true sign that Lenglet might've returned in the summer, having been borrowed for the season from Barcelona; indeed his signing only came about after Mings' opening day injury, from which he has only recently returned himself. With Mings, Torres, Ezri Konsa and Diego Carlos available, Emery and Monchi didn't revisit a deal for Lenglet. For another year, he was loaned out - this time remaining in Spain, with Atletico Madrid.

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Curiously, the pattern of his season this year is one that contains similarities to Lenglet's year at Villa; he joined the club late in the summer transfer window, along with compatriot Robin Le Normand, and has been made to wait patiently, such is the competition for places under Diego Simeone. The Argentine was very complimentary of Lenglet in October.

"He's a player with humility, hard work, dedication, and a real desire to improve, and as a coach, you love having someone like that," said Simeone. "We’re going to help him develop in ways we believe will make him a better footballer. Lenglet is working hard to improve and adapt to the way we play. He’s a great competitor with strong aerial skills and good left-footed passing."

Only in the last few weeks has a place opened up for Lenglet, who has taken his opportunity at the back with both hands. Atleti under Simeone have been typically miserly, conceding just eight goals and losing once in La Liga this season. Lenglet, who wasn't afforded the preparation of European football to tick him over this season, which helped him to settle in at Villa, has helped his loan club to continue that form.

He has made eight appearances in the last two months, helping the club from the Spanish capital to seven wins and four clean sheets in that period. Indeed the only game Lenglet missed in La Liga in that time was Atleti's only defeat of the season so far. At the weekend, he opened his account, too, opening the scoring in the 5-0 triumph over Real Valladolid. He earned a La Liga Team of the Week spot as a result, too.

"All teams need time," Simeone said. "A month and a half ago, two months ago, we talked about the new guys needing to adapt to the team and how Atletico Madrid play because they all played differently in their [former] teams. The growth of Lenglet, [Conor] Gallagher, Julian [Alvarez], [Alexander] Sorloth and the hope of recovering Robin Le Normand soon is giving us a good feeling.

"We lost a very bad game against [Real] Betis, where we were not recognisable and I think that was the breakthrough of what has come from then on. We can win, lose or draw, but we have to be recognisable."

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