Lamine Yamal talks Xavi, Messi, Neymar, Gavi, Cubarsi, La Masia, Champions League

Lamine Yamal has been the poster boy for Barcelona this season, despite being the youngest player in the squad.

The 16-year-old sensation has had a massive role to play in Barcelona’s resurgence over the past few months and has conjured up moments of magic with an exceptionally consistent frequency.

Speaking to the club’s official media, he recently touched upon several topics related to this season and his rise to prominence.

Expressing happiness with how the season has gone so far, Yamal stated: “It’s been a dream to be able to play for FC Barcelona in front of our fans.

“It’s also a unique experience to share a dressing room with world-class players. I am really content and happy.” 

When asked how he feels about the fact that he has been progressing rapidly since his debut, Yamal acknowledged:

“Everything is all new to me. Nothing like this had ever happened to me. My only intention is to keep playing and enjoying being in the Barça shirt.”

The Spanish winger humbly admitted that he is unaware of all the records he has racked up this season, but he keeps track of some of them.

“The truth is no (laughs). Almost everything I do becomes a record and it’s difficult for me to remember them all, but I am aware of some of them. They say that a lad of sixteen has never had so much of an impact at Barça,” he remarked.

When asked to name the records he was looking forward to beating, Yamal answered that his first goal for Barcelona against Granada took the cake.

“When I scored for the first time in a Barça shirt in the league, it was very exciting. It was away at Granada, and I recall that moment a lot, a first with my boyhood club,” the teenager replied.

The possibility of breaking Ansu Fati’s record of becoming the youngest scorer in the Champions League was brought up, and Yamal said he is looking forward to doing so against PSG.

“Yes, I hope to do it against Paris Saint-Germain, that way, I can pick up another,” he said.

Furthermore, Yamal added that the goal against Mallorca made him the happiest because it came on home soil in front of the club’s fans.

“The one I scored at Montjuïc against Mallorca because it was a dream of mine to score in front of the Barça fans.”

Requested to share his experience of scoring a goal in the Blaugrana colors, Yamal said it was an indescribable emotion.

“It’s like a liberation, an emotion I can’t explain. I feel very happy.”

Yamal was then asked to explain his unique celebration, with the youngster usually making a ‘304’ gesture with his hand after scoring.

Doing this to showcase the last three digits of the postal code of his neighborhood, he elaborated: “My neighbourhood is inside me. It’s an honour to be able to show the world where I am from so that they can hear about my neighbourhood.”

Expressing delight at the fact that he is able to bring joy to Barcelona fans, Yamal professed: “It’s a dream that makes me really happy. I feel very proud to go out on to the street and have fans stop me and tell me I am doing well.“

Explaining the reason behind his calm demeanor on the pitch, he said:

“As Xavi says, fear is one thing you should not have. It can hurt your game; it does not bring anything positive thinking about fear. You just have to be happy and enjoy having the ball at your feet.”

Xavi has already decided to leave at the end of the season, but youngsters at the club have never shied away from highlighting their gratitude toward him. For Yamal, that is no different.

“He has had a main role. He’s the one who has confidence in me. Furthermore, he’s giving me a run in the team now and I am gaining minutes. I am really happy and very grateful to a figure like Xavi,” he said.

“It’s an honour for me that a club legend, now my coach, says those things about me. It makes me really happy,” Yamal added.

Naming the players who helped him acclimatize to the first team the most, Yamal mentioned: “Since I have come in, all of them. Above all, the younger players like Araujo, Gavi, and Balde have helped me settle into the first team.”

When asked how he deals with the enormous pressure of playing for FC Barcelona, Yamal said he tries not to excessively rack his mind about it.

“I try not to think about the pressure that surrounds Barça too much. I try to enjoy my football and that is the most important thing,” he declared.

About dealing with the spotlight, he pointed out: “The truth is, calmly, as it is something I can’t control. I think of it as an external thing.”

“I focus on playing football even though there are a lot of brands focusing on me. I talk everything through with my family and I try to deal with it calmly.”

On the secret behind his ability to disguise himself as a veteran despite being a mere teenager, he said his teammates make it easier for him to play naturally.

“I couldn’t tell you. But I do play with the team-mates that I have and that makes it easier. Also, when I am out on the field I try to give everything, 100%.”

When asked if dribbling is something he was born with, Yamal responded, “Yes! Dribbling is instinctive, I do it without thinking.”

Commenting on his role models and players he looks up to, he mentioned: “Above all, Neymar and Messi; they are the two I like best.”

Playing down the comparisons with eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, he said, “That’s a comparison I leave to them, but there will never be another player like Leo Messi.”

Upon being inquired about the fact that he normally comes up against defenders twice his age, the teenage sensation conveyed:

“When I am out on the field, I don’t think about who I am up against. I play like I am in the U19s and I don’t think about defenders, and that way, I have more of a chance of getting the better of my marker.”

Talking about his toughest defender, he pointed out: “In the Spanish Super Cup final it was really tough against Ferland Mendy.”

Speaking about the role La Masia has had in his development, he stated: “It has helped a lot in all aspects: as a person, with education, as a player.

“La Masia is everything. Now you can see the role of La Masia is crucial and it has helped many of us to the first team.”

Lending a word of advice for the youngsters at the academy, he remarked, “I would tell that everything is possible, dreams can come true. I did not expect to be in the first team at 16 years of age.”

When inquired what it feels like to share a pitch with players like Cubarsi, Hector Fort, and Marc Guiu, Yamal expressed it was nothing but an honour.

“I am really happy because when I was younger, I was in the same team as them. It’s easier being in the first team with them given I have played alongside them all my life.

“For me it’s an honour to be able to continue playing with them. I can tell you that whoever comes up from La Masia, I will be happy as when I did.”

Commending Pau Cubarsi who most recently picked up a man of the match award in the Champions League round of 16 against Napoli, Yamal said:

“Everyone can see him. He is an incredible player, with a big future. I am sure he will show us even more of what he can do.”

When asked about his goals for the rest of the season, Yamal said, “It’s better not to set objectives. We just have to let time run its course and get as far as we can in the competitions in which we are still in.”

While Barcelona are behind Real Madrid by a considerable deficit, Yamal exclaimed that the team will not give up till the end.

“We are a few points off Real Madrid. Until the end of the final league game, we will not give up.”

“Years ago I watched the Champions League on TV and being on the field is incredible. Now we have PSG and the team is very excited to be playing in the quarterfinals and the chance to get through. It would be a dream to win the Champions League,” he said about knocking Napoli out.

“When you get to this stage of the Champions League, any opponents are tough. Our goal is to play as we did against Napoli where we had good spells of play to get through to the next round,” he added.

Believing that Barcelona’s defensive unit has what it takes to deal with PSG, Yamal claimed:

“All the teams left in the Champions League have excellent strikers. Not just PSG, also Manchester City, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Yet I am sure the FC Barcelona defence will be strong against them.”

When asked how the Catalans can hurt PSG going forward, Yamal expressed:

“We have to play our own game, show our personality and show that we can do hurt the PSG defence. We will attack as a unit, not only the forwards can create danger but also midfielders can contribute in attack to create chances.”

He was further questioned about how he sees himself at a personal and professional level in 10 years time, to which the Spaniard answered, “I hope at FC Barcelona winning lots of trophies.”

“It would be a dream for me to be captain,” he added.