Lamine Yamal: "I am not afraid of being a substitute"

Saint Joan DespíLamine Yamal has been the public spokesperson for the dressing room in the Champions League debut this Wednesday, against Feyenoord, at the Camp Nou (9 pm, Movistar). The Blaugrana star has said that the Champions League is his great motivation because it is the only title that, at 19 years old, he has not yet won.

The winger from Rocafonda is convinced that, with the reinforcements, there is enough of a squad to lift the Champions League and, with a prudent speech, unlike on other occasions, he has elegantly dismissed the dispute over the Ballon d'Or. "It doesn't depend on me. I am very happy with the year I have had, I have many possibilities of winning the Ballon d'Or, but I am not worried about that. I am focused on Barça and on the team".

Lamine Yamal has also addressed some of the grimaces he made at the beginning of the season, such as against Elche. "It depends on the day... The day of the Elche match it was very hot, I was tired...", he excused himself. And he insisted that he had "never" been so happy: "I have won the World Cup, I have had the vacation of my life... I am happier than ever".

The Catalan forward also wanted to put an end, at least publicly, to a great mantra that follows him: being a substitute. "I'm not afraid of being a substitute. I'm not thinking about it right now, but I'm not afraid. I have to be prepared in case one day I have to be a substitute. Which could be tomorrow or whenever the coach decides".

Lamine Yamal's captaincy

The 'blaugrana' number 10 also did not say that he expects a more dangerous Real Madrid due to the fact that they have not won any of the major titles for two seasons -"it is their problem, but I see them very happy", he replied, not knowing quite what to say-, and he valued the fact of being, for the first time, one of the five captains of Barça. "It is a great responsibility, but I have good role models: Raphinha is a great captain, I also have the examples of Eric, Pedri, Frenkie..."

Regarding the high pressure that Barça executes, Lamine was blunt: "If you don't run, you're dead. If you want to win you have to press and run. I sometimes get distracted, but I also do it", he assessed. A mature speech from a star who, when asked about his physical changes at 19 years old, concluded: "Of course I notice it, I am still a kid".