FC Barcelona won a real spectacle at FC Villarreal and showed mentality in the process. After the game, a 16-year-old was the talk of the town
2:0, 2:3, 4:3. These were the scores from FC Barcelona’s point of view at Villarreal FC on Sunday evening. Of course, there had therefore been reason to talk about mentality. Coach Xavi, who had been sitting in the stands due to suspension, praised it. Even if he explained that his team itself was to blame for the “crazy” game.
The focus was on the offence – or more precisely on a player who is only 16 years old – after the performance in the defence, which was in need of improvement: Lamine Yamal.
Two assists against Villarreal
The attacker was handed a second consecutive starting berth due to Raphinha’s red suspension and he repaid the favour with a strong performance. Yamal set up Gavi’s opening goal with a pinpoint cross and set up Robert Lewandowski’s crucial tap-in with a shot against the post. The winger was also otherwise convincing, hitting the aluminium another time.
Xavi’s conclusion was accordingly. “Lamine Yamal is only 16 years old, but nobody believes that,” the coach is quoted as saying by “Marca”. “He has carried the team, Barça.” Yet Yamal had only just played his fourth competitive game for the Blaugrana.
For the first time, Yamal had played a competitive game for the Catalans at just 15. Now at 16, he is already described as a “regular” by club legend Xavi. And not “on a whim”. Accordingly, Xavi already has “high expectations” of his protégé and raves. “His decisions are almost always the right ones. He is already exceptional.” Unsurprisingly, Xavi “wants Yamal to stay”. He has “not yet said anything about what he will do”. But, Xavi said, “He can make his mark on an era. “
Yamal feels “no fear “
Someone like Xavi, once thrown in at the deep end by the Catalans as a teenager and team-mate of another club legend Lionel Messi, should know. Yamal himself does not feel any pressure because of the expectations and declared: “I am not afraid.
