Clement Lenglet has apologised to Barcelona fans after he become pictured smiling with Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski within the immediately aftermath of his side's go out from the Champions League.
The Frenchman changed into considered one of many Barcelona stars who underperformed all through Wednesday's 3-0 defeat - as well as during their entire European adventure - and his smile with Lewandowski had some fanatics calling for him to have his agreement terminated immediately.
To make topics worse for Lenglet, young midfielder Gavi changed into visibly distraught after the result and changed into seen crying as he went down the tunnel, which changed into the sort of reaction that lovers were searching out.
Amid an wave of complaint and abuse that came his manner, Lenglet took to Instagram to provide an explanation for that he was manifestly disappointed with the end result and turned into without a doubt pictured guffawing at a comment made by way of Lewandowski.
"I need to ship a message to all the culé enthusiasts," he wrote. "First of all, my sadness for the day gone by's end result. This membership merits the best and we've got not been able to offer that.
"Secondly, I want to give an explanation for an image of me in which I am smiling with Lewandowski approximately some thing that had simply took place at that moment. It is a selected reaction that during no manner reflects my feeling closer to the end result.
"My values are unquestionable and each person who is aware of me is aware of my dedication and love for my profession, for Barça and mainly for the lovers. I might never react like that towards some thing that still hurts me today.
"Today, we're very sad however we have a project: to get Barça back where it merits to be."
Lenglet has no longer been a permanent starter under new manager Xavi. He was benched for the facet's only two wins beneath the new boss to date - against Espanyol and Villarreal - but got here returned in for the 1-0 defeat to Real Betis.
He saved his area against Bayern however was off the tempo from begin to complete, and lovers had been quick to remind Lenglet that it's been some time considering the fact that they truely noticed him on the tempo.
