Samuel Umtiti’s arrival at Lille OSC this summer added an element of experience to Les Dogues’ back-line, and whilst he wants to allow the team to grow, he knows that he can’t do it alone.
After having left Ligue 1 Uber Eats back in 2012, following a move from Lyon to Barcelona, Umtiti made his return to the French top-flight in a 2-2 draw against Rennes on Saturday. Les Dogues were in control against Bruno Genesio's side, but let a two-goal lead slip late in the second-half.
When Umtiti left France, he was a youngster, but he comes back with a wealth of experience in La Liga and Serie A, whilst he has also won the World Cup with Les Bleus in the meantime. Whilst acknowledging the importance of his experience, especially next to the promising but inexperienced Leny Yoro, Umtiti also insisted on collective responsibility.
“I quickly realised that this team lacked a bit of leadership.”
“Everyone brings their experience. I am not the good lord. Will I change everything? No. We all need to listen, me or Leny, when he speaks on the pitch as well. I told him that I don’t care about age. He needs to speak as well, because at the back, we see everything. This team needs to become more mature. I need to bring my bit so that the team understands that to win, sometimes you have to be a ‘dog,’ and that we kind of don’t care about the beautiful game,” said the former Barcelona defender.
Umtiti, however, does assume his role as leader of this youthful Lille side. “The young players are listening; it’s easy for me. The group works well, but I quickly realised that this team lacked a bit of leadership, and calmness as well. Some lack it in difficult situations. I have this role to bring,” he added.
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