Benfica says thanks! Otamendi ‘less of a player’ than Lenglet | OneFootball

Clément Lenglet arrives at Benfica after building a solid career on the biggest stages of European football. The French centre-back brings a decade of experience playing for clubs such as Sevilla, Barcelona, Tottenham, Aston Villa and Atlético de Madrid, and is now preparing to embrace a new challenge at the Estádio da Luz.

Although his last season in Madrid was marked by some individual mistakes, there are those who have no doubt that the French international has everything it takes to succeed wearing the eagle on his chest. That is the belief of Pablo Correa, the coach who brought Lenglet into Nancy’s first team between 2013 and 2016.

Pablo Correa compared Lenglet with Nicolás Otamendi, considering that the two centre-backs have very different characteristics. "Technically, Clément (Lenglet) is not a player who will impress with physical strength. He is capable of dispossessing an opponent through his anticipation or positioning."

In the coach’s view, the former Benfica captain stands out for his aggressiveness, while the Frenchman offers greater quality on the ball. "I think Otamendi is more aggressive, but less of a player with the ball at his feet. It seems to me that Clément has a better short and long game."

Speaking to the newspaper 'A Bola', Correa highlighted the defender’s development throughout his career, especially after his time at Barcelona. According to the Uruguayan coach, Lenglet significantly improved his relationship with the ball, becoming a very capable centre-back in the build-up phase.

What’s more, he also praised the composure shown by the defender when playing out from the back, both in short build-up and through long passing. "He is calm when playing short and has a very accurate long pass. His intelligence in positioning allows him to hide his weaker points."

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.