The aftermath of the game against Mallorca saw FC Barcelona take away three very important points. In the face of desperation, the Catalan giants somehow managed to take away a key victory from a tense affair. Most of the credit for that will likely and understandably also go to the youngsters of Barcelona.
Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, in particular, stood out for their contributions. The Spanish defender kept Mallorca at bay on the pitch of the Montjuic Stadium for the entirety of the game, while Yamal was the hero of the hour with his brilliant goal and various efforts that put a dagger through the heart of Javier Aguirre’s side.
However, even the Mallorca coach himself was nothing short of astounded by Yamal’s prodigious display. After the game, as highlighted by Mundo Deportivo, he compared the youngster to a certain Argentinian who used to light up the Camp Nou in his Barcelona days:
“I saw Messi quick as a rat years ago… and Lamine also seems like a rat, the scoundrel… if this continues, Lamine will bring many joys to Barça. Cubarsí shines less for not deciding games, Lamine has been defining games for a while now…”
His remark for Cubarsi clearly shows that he understands the value of the defender as well. It is an honest truth of the footballing world that forwards tend to get more recognition than defenders, but elite coaches tend to notice the contributions on both ends.
He also directed even more praise towards Yamal’s goal in particular for Barcelona, claiming it to have been something Mallorca could not have done anything against to stop it from going in:
“With that goal, you have to applaud it, there’s nothing else to do. We made a great effort but in the end, it wasn’t enough. Defeats, even if honorable, hurt. But we can be satisfied with the work.”
Such words of praise would do well to keep igniting the confidence of young Lamine Yamal. Already ascending at a speed beyond anyone’s wildest imaginations, the young 16-year-old continues to dream big. For Barcelona, he may very well be the answer to their problems this season and for years to come.