Barca vs Chelsea: Lamine Yamal's new power

Lamine Yamal changed physically and emotionally and showed his true role as Barca's leader, confidently facing Chelsea.

When Yamal ponders

It was Thursday, October 30, four days after the Clasico at the Bernabeu. A witness claimed to have seen Lamine Yamal with tears in his eyes. “He was crying!” he told El Pais.

Others say Yamal is just confused. “I don’t know if Lamine is really crying or not; what I know for sure is that he needs a ‘reset,’” those close to him insist.

Yamal pondered many things after the Clasico. Photo: FCB

All agreed on one point: in the silence, the 18-year-old boy could not understand the noise inside himself. He was in physical pain, mentally exhausted.

He captivated the football world , while also making Barcelona proud and worried. He played four games since then. The result? Three goals and three assists.

To understand what was going through Lamine's mind that day, we need to go not only back to the “El Clasico”, but further back: to the summer.

With no commitments to Barca or the national team, Yamal wants to have a complete vacation after the season in which he put himself in the world football spotlight.

Lamine wants to meet his idol Neymar, and have a memorable birthday party to celebrate his 18th birthday.

Their conversations in Rio de Janeiro went beyond fun . They talked about football and the industry.

Those who know Neymar well often say that he often says a phrase in response to those who say he is wasting his talent: “I played football all my life to save my family. I think I did it, right?” .

After stories of playing, fame and professionalism, Lamine visited Ibiza and returned to Barcelona to be the main character of a controversial party (hiring a dwarf) and starting a new relationship: singer Nicki Nicole.

The new season started as the last one ended: 3 games, 2 goals, 3 assists. But something was still off.

The relationship with Nicole was brief but intense; sometimes “too intense,” according to teammates.

“I don’t think she’s the best fit for Lamine ,” a Barca member shared. Yamal became emotionally unstable, a fresh blow after seeing Ousmane Dembele win the Ballon d’Or.

Overcoming difficulties

What worries Yamal most is the pain in his pubic area. “Lamine is not really well,” admitted the Barca sports department. But he still wants to be himself, even if his confidence does not keep up with his form.

Just before “El Clasico”, he fell into the trap of the Kings League, which needed promotion. “Real Madrid stole and then complained” , he joked.

The video went viral, pleasing Gerard Pique (Kings League organizer) , but drawing backlash from those who found Lamine arrogant.

After the match in Madrid, Yamal changed completely. Photo: EFE

Dani Carvajal was among them , right at the Bernabeu stadium, after Real Madrid won against Barca, he said: "Continue!" .

Hansi Flick has less chance but also expects a different version: “He needs to focus harder” .

Lamine seemed unconcerned, and the club and his family understood it was time to take him off the spotlight. Barca's sporting department and his agent agreed: success corrupts; failure teaches maturity.

The shock at the Clasico did not knock Yamal down, but made him reflect. On October 30, he had a cleansing session.

After parting ways with Nicole and determined to put his pubic pain behind him, Yamal accepted the club's plan to reduce the number of matches, especially with the Spanish national team. A week later, his agent, Jorge Mendes, arrived in Barcelona.

“I don’t understand the noise around Yamal. Everyone was 18 and young. As President Laporta said, we have to support him and help him as much as possible because he is a great asset for the club. Lamine knows what to do on and off the pitch, and he is doing it: work calmly, talk less ,” Mendes analyzed.

Yamal reduced his public appearances. Everything was reinforced by a change in the recovery method, with his personal doctor.

“This injury doesn’t go away overnight. It goes up and down. But Yamal has improved a lot ,” Flick said.

One thing remains the same: his team-mateship. “People say Yamal sometimes has a bad attitude, but in the dressing room he is the same, cheerful and sociable,” Flick said.

Overcoming the noise, Lamine Yamal is focusing on football. He wants to follow in Leo Messi's footsteps two decades ago: conquer Chelsea's Stamford Bridge with Barca (3am on November 26).

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/barca-vs-chelsea-cup-c1-quyen-luc-moi-cua-lamine-yamal-2466309.html