The Barcelona star is in the spotlight for controversial reasons ahead of the Clasico.
Criticism of Lamine Yamal will give further motivation to the Barcelona star for El Clasico, assistant coach Marcus Sorg said ahead of Sunday’s clash with Real Madrid.
Almost certain to be a central figure in the Clasico, Yamal attracted negative attention in the lead up to the meeting of the two arch rivals by claiming in an appearance on a social media stream that Madrid “steal” and “complain”.
But Sorg, speaking to the media ahead of game for which coach Hansi Flick is suspended, does not expect the increased scrutiny to have a negative impact.
To the contrary, he told a press conference: “Lamine is a top player and I think [the criticism] will be motivating for him. I hope we all see him tomorrow [give] the best performance.”
Referencing a head-to-head battle with Madrid left-back Alvaro Carreras, who was signed from Benfica in the summer, Sorg added: “Lamine is always motivated, and if I remember right, we won all three games against Benfica [in the Champions League last season].”
Sorg, though, made no attempt to dismiss the impact of the absence of Flick from the Barcelona dugout.
“He’s the most important part of the team and so it’s a disadvantage of course,” Sorg said. “But it’s the same with the players, we have to deal with it. Everybody knows what he expects from us and I think we will do it.
”We have to do things right, apply pressure with and without the ball, push up the pitch if necessary… but we won’t change our way of doing things; it wouldn’t help us.
“In these games, everything is 50-50. Whoever performs best on the field will win.”
Barca will also be without Raphinha because of a hamstring injury, but Sorg is confident that, between Yamal, Marcus Rashford, Ferran Torres and Fermin Lopez, the Blaugrana have the resources to thrive going forward against Madrid.
“Raphinha — every team would miss him, but it is how it is,” said Sorg. “We have enough players and have to deal with it.”
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