- Yamal dismisses talk of ego issues
- Barcelona held to draw by Vallecano
- Youngster slams talks of bad behaviour
Barca’s 1–1 draw with Rayo Vallecano angered coach Flick, who afterwards urged his squad to abandon “egos” and focus on collective unity, warning that selfishness could “kill success”. Yamal, however, pushed back in a candid interview with RTVE insisting that the setback had nothing to do with egos but rather a lack of intensity early in the season. The 18-year-old, who scored a penalty in Vallecas, remains one of Barca’s brightest sparks with two goals and two assists in just three league matches.
Yamal, responding to Flick’s recent admission said his interview: “I think it has more to do with the fact that we didn’t start the season with the intensity we had at the end of the last one, rather than the egos in the dressing room. After a draw, you come out of a bad mood; in the end, you have to win.”
Yamal has attracted a lot of attention off the field due to his rise to prominence on it for Barcelona and Spain. His 18th birthday party resulted in an investigation, while his relationship has also made the headlines in recent weeks. The criticism does not bother the teenager, though, as he said: “Lately, there’s been more talk about what I do off the pitch than what I do on it. But they talk about me for what I do on the pitch. If I were playing for Mataro, my birthday party wouldn’t have that kind of impact. I’m not affected by what people say. I’ve realised that everything that happens in my life will be talked about, and that a lot of it is made up. I don’t care much. In the end, I already said it on the day of my renewal, for both the good and the bad, I only listen to my circle, who are the ones who really know things and what matters. It’s something in my favour that helps me a lot because you’ll never hear Lamine sad or happy because of something someone else has said. I continue on my path, I continue with my mentality, which I believe is what has brought me here.”
The upcoming clash with Valencia will most certainly serve as a litmus test for both Flick’s authority and Yamal’s growing leadership. If Barca stumbles again, questions will resurface about whether the squad can rediscover last season’s intensity and whether Flick can command respect in a dressing room full of young stars and established veterans.
