Lamine Yamal Motivated by Criticism Ahead of El Clasico Says Barcelona Assistant Coach
Barcelona assistant coach Marcus Sorg has revealed that teenage star Lamine Yamal is highly motivated by recent criticism as the club prepares for Sunday’s highly anticipated El-Clasico clash against Real Madrid.
The 18-year-old winger has been in the spotlight following a light-hearted comment he made during a social media stream, where he joked that Real Madrid often “steal” and “complain.” The remarks stirred mixed reactions, especially from Madrid supporters, adding extra tension ahead of the match at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Sorg expressed confidence that the young star would respond positively on the pitch. “Lamine is a top player, and I think the criticism will motivate him,” he said. “I hope we see him at his best tomorrow.”
Barcelona will be aiming for their fifth consecutive win over Real Madrid, a streak that reflects their recent dominance in the fixture. Yamal, who has already made a name for himself as one of Spain’s most talented young players, will face off against Madrid left-back Alvaro Carreras — a matchup that posed challenges for him last season during encounters with Benfica in the Champions League.
“Lamine is always motivated, and if I remember correctly, we won all three games against Benfica,” Sorg added with confidence.
The team, however, will have to cope without head coach Hansi Flick, who is suspended following a red card received in the recent win against Girona. Sorg will take charge on the sidelines in his absence. “It’s a disadvantage not having Hansi because he’s such an important part of the team, but everyone knows what he expects, and we’ll deliver,” said the assistant coach.
Barcelona will also be missing Raphinha, who has suffered a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury. Despite his absence, Sorg remains optimistic. “Every team would miss a player like Raphinha, but we have enough quality players to deal with it,” he stated.
There is a glimmer of hope for Jules Kounde, who trained on Saturday and may be fit enough to feature, alongside Ferran Torres. However, several key players remain sidelined, including Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo, and Gavi, who are all out due to injuries.
With the stakes high and emotions running even higher, Sunday’s El-Clasico promises to be a fiery encounter, with Yamal ready to prove his critics wrong on one of football’s biggest stages.
