Lamine talks Flick, De la Fuente, Lewandowski, Casado, De Jong, Real Madrid, CL ambitions | OneFootball

Lamine Yamal has become a key figure for FC Barcelona the Spanish national team. At just 17 years old, he has earned the respect and admiration of fans and teammates alike.

The teenage sensation does not shy away from the spotlight. Ahead of the upcoming matches between Spain and the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League, the winger sat down for an interview with SPORT, discussing various topics.

After four months without international matches, Yamal is thrilled to be back, as he said:

“”Very good, we have a very close relationship, everyone welcomes you very well in this team. I am very happy to see my teammates again, and now it is time to enjoy and play.”

Unfortunately, Yamal’s Barcelona teammate, Marc Casad, who made an impact in his debut for Spain, is missing due to injury.

“After the match against Atletico Madrid, I asked him how he was going to the training camp, and he told me he needed to get an MRI because he had pain in his knee,” said Lamine.

“I spoke with him yesterday (Monday) and I wrote to him to recover soon, that when he comes back, I will visit him and we will spend some time together. We hope he recovers soon. We love him very much.”

Speaking about the midfielder’s form before injury, he added: “He was having an incredible season. For it being his first season at the elite level, he was at a great level of play, providing assists, and I am happy that things were going well for him.”

Despite being seen as a leading figure for both Spain and Barcelona, Yamal remains focused on enjoying the game.

“I go out to enjoy myself and not think about this. I want to enjoy and have a good time, play football, which is what I do best, and not think about these things,” he said.

On how his managers, Luis de la Fuente and Hansi Flick, have encouraged him to stay grounded, he noted:

“They have told me so many times that they do not even repeat it to me anymore, it is something you must always keep in mind.

“It will only hurt you if you start believing you are the best at everything. You have to enjoy yourself and not think about the rest. That is the way forward.”

Lamine is ready to shine for Spain. (Photo by Rafa Babot/Getty Images)

When asked about his frustration at being substituted, he responded: “That just shows that everyone wants to play. At the moment of the substitution, every player gets upset. It is normal, but on the way to the bench, it passes.

“A teammate comes in who, when you were on the field, wanted you to do well, and in the end, it is the same thing.”

On Thursday, Spain will face the Netherlands, a team featuring Yamal’s Barcelona teammate Frenkie de Jong, who missed Barcelona’s previous game vs Atletico due to a stomach problem.

“I do not know how he is; he had stomach issues. When we found out we were playing the Netherlands, we talked about it. I wished him luck, and I am excited to play against him. He is a great player. We are very eager to play against the Netherlands,” he said.

On being asked about his relationship with veteran stars like Robert Lewandowski, Lamine insisted that Barcelona’s squad has grown stronger this season.

“It is something that can be seen. We are a close-knit group. We are much more of a team than last year. That is the natural process when a group of players come together and spend time together.

“Only Dani Olmo came in, who was already at the Euros, and we are many Spanish players forming a great family. You could see it in the celebration against Atlético or Benfica. We all celebrate for each other, and that is the key to the team.”

Yamal credits coach Hansi Flick with instilling an intense work ethic, as he said:

“He has instilled in us that the most important thing is intensity, that we fight for one another, that we give everything for the jersey, for the players, for the fans, for the family… We must always have the desire to win.”

Lamine also pointed out how Flick is a very approachable manager, stating: “He is very approachable, he cares about everyone, he explains everything so you know what to improve or not. We appreciate him for that.”

When asked if he had ever been late to a team meeting, Yamal laughed, saying: “Luckily, no. Otherwise, I would not have played, like what happened to Jules (Kounde). Flick knows how to earn the team’s respect.”

Yamal then spoke about how he has adjusted to life outside La Masia, Barcelona’s famous youth academy, saying:

“”I have transitioned to a quieter life. Inside the residence, I was calm, but outside, there were always kids at the door, and you could not live your life in peace. At home, I can rest, I can visit my mother and father whenever I want.

I have more freedom because La Masia is a residence, and it is normal for there to be some control over where you are. However, whenever I can, I go back to visit my friends. I have a lot of love for them.”

Yamal is aware of the distractions that come with being a teenage football star. “You have to think about being a footballer and take care of yourself. No one will look after you more than yourself. Training and matches are always ahead, so you must stay focused.”

Lamine also revealed that he also Barcelona’s youth teams closely, as he said:

“I have friends like Brian Farinas, and I was very happy for him. We watched the final while having lunch before our match against Atletico Madrid. He keeps me updated on Youth League and league games, and I try to go when I can.

“With the youth and cadet teams, it is fun because there is more balance than with the younger teams, where the scorelines are usually one-sided. You enjoy watching them, and you see your friends play.”

A superstar in the making. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

When asked if he stands by his claim that he saves his goals for big matches, Yamal clarified: “All matches are important, but they always say that in the context of the Champions League, Atlético, or Real Madrid, I perform well.”

On critics saying he does not score enough goals, Lamine said: “As long as they do not say I am in bad form or underperforming, they will always come up with something. The next thing they will say is that I do not provide assists… I am very calm.”

On whether he enjoys an assist as much as scoring a goal, he remarked: “It depends on the assist. If it is an assist where you make a pass and your teammate goes past everyone to score, I get happy, but you do not enjoy it the same way.

“Still, I always get happy whether I provide an assist or score as long as it benefits the team.”

Speaking about his physical evolution between last season and the current one, Lamine said:

“It is part of my body’s evolution. The stronger I get, the more power I will have in my upper and lower body. You can see the change. Last year, I could not get past three defenders because physically,

“I was not strong enough. Now, I can even shoot from midfield. It is part of the work. Now we counterattack a lot, and you need the stamina to keep going play after play.”

When compared to greats like Messi and Andres Iniesta, who rarely went down, unlike Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr., he responded:

“Everyone reacts differently to being fouled. If you get hit and people say you dove, they also need to consider the speed you were running at. On this topic, I do not have a reference. When I get hit, I fall, and when I can keep going, I do.”

As the season progresses, Yamal senses the opportunity to win a major trophy, as he stated:

“I already felt this last season when PSG eliminated us from the Champions League. I do feel that sensation of being part of a winning team.

Last season, a game like the one against Atletico Madrid on Sunday, we would not have won. Same with Benfica. Now, we have that feeling of being a team that wants more and more.”

When asked about the possibility of facing Real Madrid in the Champions League final, he remained unfazed, saying:

“Why not? There is no reason to fear any team. I said earlier that Liverpool were favorites because they finished first in the group stage, but after them, we were next.

“We do not fear anyone. We are the team that hurts Real Madrid the most, and they do the same to us.”

When asked if he truly believes Barcelona are favourites to win the Champions League, he stated:

“If you do not believe you are the favourite, you have already started to lose. You cannot think about losing, you have to believe you are the best team, the one that plays the best, and the one with the best chance to win.”