Faisal Salisu DambattaBarcelona’s star player Lamine Yamal is expected to draw motivation from criticism as the Clasico approaches, according to the club’s assistant coach on Saturday.
The young winger Yamal has attracted attention in the Spanish capital after making light-hearted comments about Real Madrid, suggesting they ‘steal’ and ‘complain’ during a social media appearance.
The Spanish champions, Barcelona, will compete against Real Madrid on Sunday in La Liga at the Santiago Bernabeu, aiming for their fifth consecutive victory over their rivals.
“Lamine is an exceptional player, and I believe that (the criticism) will serve as motivation for him,” stated Marcus Sorg, assistant to coach Hansi Flick, during a press conference.
“I hope we all witness him delivering his best performance tomorrow.”
The 18-year-old Spain international will face off against Madrid’s left-back Alvaro Carreras, a player he found challenging during their encounters last season when Barcelona played Benfica three times in the Champions League.
“Lamine is consistently motivated, and if I recall correctly, we triumphed in all three matches against Benfica,” Sorg remarked.
Flick will be absent from the match due to a suspension following a red card received last weekend during the victory over Girona, with Sorg stepping in to manage from the sidelines.
“To be honest, Hansi’s absence is always felt because he is the most crucial part of the team,” Sorg expressed.
“It is certainly a disadvantage, but it is akin to missing players; we must adapt. Everyone understands his expectations, and I believe we will meet them.”
Barcelona will also be without winger Raphinha, who has encountered a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury.
“Raphinha — every team would feel his absence, but it is what it is; we have sufficient players and must cope with the situation,” Sorg commented.
The assistant coach mentioned that Jules Kounde had trained on Saturday after sustaining a knock and might be fit to play against Madrid, alongside Ferran Torres.
Barcelona has several other players sidelined due to injuries, including Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo, and Gavi.
