First team

LENGLET: “IT WAS MY DREAM TO SIGN FOR SEVILLA FC FROM THE AGE OF 17"

12/10/2017

The Sevilla centre-back said he'd "like to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League because it would be historic, and I'd like to be a part of the history of this Club"

Clement Lenglet, just nine months after his debut with Sevilla FC, was the star of SFC TV program, A Balón Parado. The Sevilla centre-back recalled his footballing origins and revealed that his first contact with Sevilla was three years before his arrival: "Monchi spoke to my parents when I was 17, now I'm 22. My parents came to Sevilla, they thought the city was incredible and they went to the Sports Village. I've wanted to come since that age, but my team didn't want that. When they called me to sign me in January, my dream came true - it was something I had dreamed about since I was 17 years old".

“To be 22 years old and to play in Sevilla and for things to be going well, it's something to be happy about”

Now, nine months after, the Frenchman feels "very happy, very quickly acclimatised and happy to be here at just 22".

On top of the good start to the season, on an individual level, Lenglet also finds himself in a good position, having played nine matches - the most used centre-back by Berizzo: "If I play a lot of matches it's because the boss has confidence in my game and I'm very happy about that. To be 22 years old and to play in Sevilla and for things to be going well, it's something to be happy about".

Now he's only thinking about the next few fixtures: "Two crucial matches because if we want to be up there we have to remember lots of games are away from home and you have to win there as well. Afterwards we have the Champions League and it's crucial to keep going in the competition".

In that regard, he spoke about his aims for this season: "To be as high up the table at the end as possible; last year we finished fourth and I would like for us to do more. In the Champions League, to reach the quarter-finals would be historic for the Club and I want to be part of that history".

"Berizzo has experience as a centre-back, when I see there's positioning or something I'm not controlling well, he always tells me"

What's more, Lenglet revealed some of the curious things that have happened to him since his arrival at Sevilla FC. Without a doubt, the most important was his goal against Espanyol: "When I scored my first goal I didn't know I had scored, I thought it was Nolito. I realised when the game finished because my parents had sent me a message on my phone congratulating me on my first goal for Sevilla".

Moreover, he talked about his continuous development under the tutelage of Berizzo, who himself has a useful footballing past: "He has a lot of experience as a centre-back, when I realise there's positioning or something I'm not controlling well, he always gives me instructions".

On a more personal level, Lenglet was on the end of many surprises. He couldn't hold back tears after messages from his mother and brother, nor at the visit of his other brother, who is now part of the Sevilla FC youth system: "Óscar Arias told me that my brother could have a trial with Sevilla FC and he signed a contract with Sevilla C. He lives with me now and I'm very happy".

He was also surprised by the Spanish teacher of both brothers, who said "of all the footballers I've given classes to, they're the most responsible I've had, they always do their work and pay close attention".