Confidence has never been a problem for Noa Lang.
And while some in Club Brugge’s ranks may have been left with a nasty case of imposter syndrome following Wednesday’s 2-0 home defeat to Benfica – their first ever Champions League knock-out tie ruined by a series of defensive blunders – Lang walked off the Jan Breydel Stadium turf with his head held high and his iron-clad self-belief enhanced.
“I think I’ve shown I belong at this level,” the Dutch international told GVA at full-time.
He’s not wrong.
Lang, Het Laaste Nieuws write, was ‘by far the best player’ on the pitch for Scott Parker’s side. No one managed more than his 91 touches in the Belgian capital. Lang also won four out of his five tackles, 18 out of 22 duels, while his tally of 12 completed dribbles blew the competition-best average of 3.8 out of the water (WhoScored).
Leeds United are big fans of Club Brugge star Noa Lang
Lang’s agent pointed out similarities with Brazil superstar Neymar last year; highlighting his client’s ‘excellent technique and dribbling ability’. Two attributes that were clear to see even as Benfica took one giant stride into the quarter-finals.
“If only all Bruges players played at the level of Noa Lang,” Ludo Vandewalle writes in his Het Nieuwsblad column. “Eager, with flair, and brimming with confidence. He is the only player in blue-and-black who radiates that.”
There was a sense of frustration at Elland Road when Marcelo Bielsa decided against bringing Lang to Leeds United in January 2022, the Yorkshire giants having done much of the groundwork to secure the former Ajax starlet’s signature. Bielsa, The Athletic say, had concerns about the £25 million-rated Lang’s defensive work-rate.
Lang, instead of wallowing in self-pity, used that disappointment as inspiration. As a means of self-improvement. He now averages 2.3 tackles per game in the Champions League, a massive increase from his 1.3 average last term (WhoScored). If there were doubts about his defensive diligence, then he’s certainly addressing them in the right way.
‘Leeds made three offers’
“(Leeds’ interest) was concrete, yes,” Lang told HLN. “Leeds made three offers. We even negotiated. They flew to the Netherlands (to hold talks with me).”
Bielsa may be gone, but Leeds’ interest remains. According to Give Me Sport, the stylish 23-year-old is fully aware that, if the Yorkshire giants avoid the drop, they could come calling again in the summer.
Performances like Wednesday’s only add to the feeling that Lang is outgrowing the relatively small pond that is Belgian football. But, as the man himself says, no one in the capital need worry that all the speculation will distract him from the task at hand.
“As long as I am at Club Brugge, I will give the best of myself for the club,” Lang insists. “Against any opponent. I want to finish everything as well as possible with the blue-and-black.”
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