Barcelona’s young number 10 appears to already be acting as captain, taking to social media ahead of the key run-in.
Lamine Yamal sends clear message to Barcelona fans after Copa setback
Lamine Yamal has for some time acted as one of the young leaders of this Barcelona side. In the attempt to overturn the tie against Atlético Madrid – which ultimately fell just short (3-0 in the second leg, 4-3 on aggregate) – Barça’s No. 10 was among the most dangerous players on the field. He took responsibility in key moments, tormented Ruggeri, provided an assist and repeatedly looked for a goal, though without success. His threat was so constant that Atlético at times assigned as many as three players to close him down during certain sequences.
With Barcelona unable to reach the final and therefore unable to defend the title, Yamal chose to face the supporters directly. In an Instagram story, the winger thanked fans for their presence and backing at Camp Nou. “Thank you for last night, culers,” the message began.
The winger also pointed to the immediate future, echoing the tone set by several teammates. “We still have many things to be excited about. Visca el Barça sempre!” he wrote – an indirect reference to the two trophies still in play: a league campaign in which Barcelona sit top of the table, four points ahead of Real Madrid, and a Champions League run where Newcastle await on what is theoretically the more favorable side of the bracket. Yamal has absorbed the setback and is already focused on what lies ahead.
Strong numbers despite absences
Lamine Yamal has once again reached double digits in both goals and assists this season. Despite missing more time than last year due to muscular discomfort, the winger has produced 18 goals – matching his best scoring season – along with 13 assists, eight fewer than he finished with last year.
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