Lamine Yamal talks Pedri, Rodri, World Cup, fitness: ‘I’m ready for 90 minutes’ | OneFootball

Spain began the FIFA World Cup as one of the favourites, but the general consensus after the group stage is that they have largely disappointed.

As opposed to how fearsome they looked in attack even a year ago, the Spanish side are now lacking that cutting edge and threat, and a big part of the same is down to them lacking the wingers’ output.

While Nico Williams has been virtually unavailable, the bigger factor for them has been Lamine Yamal’s injury which the player has slowly returned from. Yet, it is clear that he is still not at his 100%.

Yamal’s interview

The Barcelona phenom spoke to Tiempo de Juego in a recent interview ahead of Spain’s first knockout game of the tournament and made a massive admission that he is finally ready to play a full 90 minutes.

“I’m very well, very happy. I have trained with a lot of desire and am excited to get to this moment. I’m at 90-80% and getting better, it doesn’t go down. I’m ready for 90 minutes.”

Ready to play 90 minutes. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Explaining how he was exercising caution so far on the field so as to prevent a relapse, the player said,

“If I see that there is a half-chance, I don’t challenge for it to prevent getting hurt, but I train hard. If you go with fear, it’s worse because you can hurt yourself but against Uruguay I didn’t sprint to the fullest because we were already qualified,” he added.

Elaborating on whether or not he would play ninety minutes in the next game, Yamal said,

“The coach decides, I’ll tell him how I’m doing and if I can stand it.”

On Spain’s performances

The youngster was then asked about Spain’s form in the event so far and whether they were at the same level as they were when they won the Euros.

“Is our level the same as the Euros? I have played well many times with Barça and we have gone home, but the important thing is to win. We can improve, we are much better than the level we are showing, but I want to win.”

He then admitted that the team must do better, but insisted that winning was more important than playing well.

“People are saying that we can play better but we have in our head that with calm, the first is to win and then we will improve.”

Lamine not worried about Spain’s performance. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Commenting on Rodri and Pedri and the calm the duo bring to the midfield, the winger said,

“They are very good. I haven’t seen Rodri at the end of the season but Pedri is doing very well.”

“If the results accompany, we would see them better. You have to trust. The group stage is no longer worth anything,” he added.

On handling the pressure on himself and on the team as a whole, Yamal said,

“I understand that people are going to target the player who excites the most. Pedri and Rodri are great but the pressure I have, I’m Barça’s 10, the winger. But I’m happy with this, the pressure is when you can’t do what they ask you but I can.”

On the World Cup moments

The player was then asked about the recent elimination of the Netherlands and Germany, to which he gave his honest verdict.

“I see it. I see everything about the World Cup. The one in Holland was more equal but the one in Germany was more surprising.”

Finally, Yamal spoke out about his first World Cup goal which arrived in Spain’s second game of the event.

“I have never felt so much happiness, the World Cup is different and it is with your country.”

“I never get excited, I don’t cry. I cried when I got hurt, when I saw my mother cry. If I win the World Cup I won’t cry, it’s impossible,” he concluded.