While FC Barcelona have got easier UEFA Champions League group stage rivals than they did last season, the Catalans will still have to give their best to finish at the top of their group. The Blaugranes are favorites for the top spot in their group, but one team that can challenge them in this aspect is the Portuguese club, Porto.
Barcelona will be facing Porto in their upcoming match on Wednesday, and being the two best teams in their group, their match is definitely going to have some fireworks.
As already reported here, the Portuguese coach, Carlos Carvalhal, spoke to the media about this match, and as SPORT has reported, he identified several players that Porto will be wary of going into the match. Lamine Yamal was one such player whom he particularly praised.
Lamine Yamal
Carvalhal spoke highly of Lamine Yamal and Barcelona’s handling of him:
“Be careful with young players and the path they tread, although it doesn’t seem to be the case with Lamine. He is in a club that knows how to take care of its players, knows how to handle them.”
The manager was impressed with Yamal’s ability to influence games even if he does not get too much time on the pitch, and compared him with a Real Madrid legend in this aspect:
“When he starts, he does very well, and even in ten minutes, too. He reminds me of Cristiano Ronaldo’s process with Ferguson at Manchester United.”
Carvalhal was convinced that Xavi is taking the right approach with Yamal, and set a very high standard for the youngster:
“This is a very important process for his growth, and Xavi is doing it phenomenally: he puts him in, gives him minutes, doesn’t let him get carried away, and keeps his feet on the ground… Very well. He has tremendous potential, and if he continues like this, he will be at Mbappé’s level.”
While Yamal currently has a lot to grow as a player, his current trajectory does not belie Carvalhal’s claim that he can grow on to get at Mbappe’s level. However, the youngster does not need extra pressure and should be allowed to grow at his own pace to realize his potential and become one of the best players in the world.
