Manager Philippe Clement believes Noa Lang plans to stay at Club Brugge for another season despite interest from Leeds United, speaking to Sport/Foot.
With reports suggesting Leeds could make a £20 million-rated Dutchman one of the most expensive footballers in their 101-year history, it’s important to analyse Lang the person as well as Lang the player (Telegraph).
On the pitch the former Ajax starlet is a mesmeric footballer, an attacking midfielder who makes the spectacular look like second nature. He scored a hat-trick on his first Eredivisie start for Ajax in 2019 and has since marked his debut season in Belgium with 16 goals and ten assists.
But while there are no questions about Lang’s ability, it’s his attitude that sets alarm bells ringing.
The Holland U21 international would be the first to admit he can be a difficult character – hugely self-confident but unafraid to speak his mind. How would Marcelo Bielsa, an old-school disciplinarian, the living embodiment of Leeds’ ‘side before self’ motto, get the best out of this brazen individualist?
With Clement claiming Lang could decide to stay for another season at Club Brugge, we may not find out the answer to that particular poser. At least, not this summer.
“I think it would be best if (Lang) stayed here for another year. I have the impression he sees it that way himself,” says Clement, who has been linked with the vacant managerial post at Sheffield United.
“It is super important to Noa that you are open and honest with him and then you get that back from him. That also means being firm and clear. He is eager and wants to learn but, even more than with others, the basis for him must be that there is trust.
“If he feels he has that … then he gives back the best of himself. If not, he will build a wall.
“Noa needs a little more attention than some of the others. He is one of the players to whom I explain a lot. On the one hand because of his sensitivity, on the other because he is very impulsive.
“When I see it starting to bubble inside him, I try to intervene. We talk about that a lot. And the stronger your relationship is, the harder you can be.”
Bielsa and Lang – now that could be an explosive cocktail.
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